Anastasia and Jasmine walked through the forest holding a basket of foodstuffs which had been bought in the market, they were awfully silent with their faces gloomy
"I feel bad for Uncle and Aunty" Ana sighed breaking the awful silence as Jasmine nodded
" Alexa will be found am sure she will...."
"when....because it has been a week since her disappearance we have searched the entire village for her, when," Ana said with teary eyes Alexa was like an elder sister to both Jasmine and Ana her sudden disappearance had caused a wave of sadness to both the Heinzen and madradon family. they followed the long path to their houses as they both walked slowly
" she will be found, we will find her. maybe while trying to come back she got lost " she said as Ana stopped frowning
" you don't think a week is enough for a lost person to find the way back home. what if she is in danger Jasmine" she gasped tears rolling down her eyes as Jasmine hugged her trying to calm her down
" Nothing will happen to her "
" How is Jayden " Ana sniffed she hadn't seen him since the incident she and her family would come over when free to know the situation of things
"he is disheartened he wouldn't speak to me," Jasmine said with a frown as some noise caught her attention
"do you hear that ?"
"What?" Ana replied looking around the forest as Jasmine began to follow the noise
" what are you doing ...where are you going wait!" Ana shouted following behind as Jasmine finally stopped by a stream, people were gathering it murmuring things she couldn't hear, jasmine stood from afar watching them as Ana finally made a stop beside her
" They are just people gossiping ....let us leave father and Mother must be anticipating our return"
" no, it's more than that, "Jasmine said as she walked up to them
"Is she alive?" someone said
" I don't know check"
" why should I check ....you check "
"I think we should inform the chief" they murmured as they watched the lifeless body at the bank of the stream
"I think she is the lieutenant's daughter. what happened to her " another said as a sick feeling hit Jasmine she couldn't shake off the feeling that the person in that water was someone familiar she pushed through the crowd, her eyes landing on the body as her stomach crunched at the sight
" a...al...Alexa?" she said the basket of foodstuff dropping to the ground, she was shocked trying to register what was happening, it was Alexa she looked lifeless her body pale with marks and cuts on her hands, she was covered in blood which had dried and her thighs exposed her dress seemed to have torn
" Alexa! "She screamed with teary eyes
" Alexa? "Ana said dropping her basket and running to the crowd as she pushed her way through she only stopped after sighting what everyone's attention was on her mouth fell open shock written all over her face
" Help me someone help me !" Jasmine screamed as two other men followed her
" Alexa wake up, please wake up" Jasmine said hitting lightly on her cheeks as she began rubbing her hands
" you, give me your sheet"she said to a man who had covered himself with a cloth he took it off and wrapped it around Alexa
" Ana Call the physician and inform the chief and his wife that we have found Alexa fast " she said as Ana ran
" you help me carry her " Jasmine instructed as the man obeyed .
*******FLASH BACK********
After the night of the pre-wedding ceremony, Jasmine came back to be scolded by Emerald
"You're late !" Emerald said frowning as Jasmine smiled
" is something funny hmm...share it because I want to laugh as well" Her features hardened
" It's just I thought you would never speak to me again but am happy you don't ignore me anymore " she said as Emerald scoffed
"Mother am sorry, am really sorry for what I did " she said with teary eyes
" And is that going to erase the humiliation we went through hum!" she shouted
" is that ?....is it going to stop the villagers from gossiping about how poorly raised you are Jasmine!, I...I..I emerald I begged Mrs Amethyst to reconsider but she threw I the chief's wife out of her house " she said as Jasmine frowned
" and that is an insult she should be punished mother...."
" How can I punish her when we are the ones in the wrong, when my own daughter insulted her son in front of everyone, jasmine we had to return the token do you know how grave your mistake is now ?" she said cutting her off
"Mother?..."
" do you know how hard it will be for anyone whose marriage is being called off, for her to get married? jasmine for you to get married "
"Mother you need not worry "
" oh forgive me for worrying about my daughter's future. if you are not worried about yourself then be worried for the chief your father's reputation he is the chief of this village and we are examples to the people of Haran "
"Mother you know the people of the village they talk about something for a while and forget about it "
" even if they stop talking doesn't mean they have forgotten, it's still in their hearts and whenever something similar comes up they remember," she said leaving.
the next day was the wedding jasmine, Tatiana and Ana came a little earlier than their parents to help the maids dress Alexa up. the entire house was decorated and guests had begun to arrive from far and near the lieutenant was quite famous he was a part of those who helped win previous wars of the Assyria kingdom, the king was also an acquaintance of his he couldn't make it and so sent his right-hand man to attend. everyone arrived as Jasmine and Ana helped the servants to serve the food they figured since the ceremony ended late they would let Alexa sleep for some time and anyway there would be a lot of girls dressing her up it wouldn't take long to fix her
"Tatiana help out " Ana whispered to her she had complained of leg pain and sat down with the guest
" what are you ?...do I know you ?" Tatiana said glaring at her as Ana rolled her eyes
" yes you do now stand " Jasmine said tapping the back of her head
" Ouch! " she shouted rubbing her head as she stood Mariya walked up to them
" I think it is time we wake Alexa, three of you go get Alexa dressed I will send some of the servants to help you out alright? " she said smiling as they nodded following her orders immediately
"Alexa wake up!" Tatiana shouted as they walked through the hall that led to her room
" Can you stop shouting we haven't even gotten to her room" Ana said frowning
" Alexa !" She continued ignoring Ana as Jasmine rolled her eyes
"Shut up!"
" you shut up !"
" How dare you little girl you seem to lack manners "
"both of you enough! " Jasmine said as they finally stopped at the door placing a soft knock on it with no one answering
" Alexa we are coming in, " Tatiana said as she pushed the door open to see no one they stood puzzled for a second before they began to search her room calling unto her
" Alexa ?" Ana said looking around
" Alexa, where are you ?" Tatiana said looking under the table in her room
" if she was there don't you think we would have seen her ?" Ana said confused as Tatiana hissed in reply
" Both of you her room was left untouched " Jasmine said looking around
" what do you mean," Ana asked as Jasmine shook her head before sighing
" Nothing "
" Why don't we tell Aunt, Alexa is gone " Tatiana said with a frown
" she isn't gone, maybe she woke up earlier and decided to take a stroll so let's split up and search around alright? " Ana said as they all nodded obeying they searched everywhere for her but couldn't find her. the kitchen, the garden, the stable, the cottage, the servant's house, the rooms the hall where the ceremony was being held they asked Jayden, Amos, behek, Emerald, and Parry if they had seen Alexa around as they asked if something was wrong but they assured them things were fine
" Anastasia is Alexa done dressing " Mariya said with a wide smile as she froze for a moment before composing herself
" ah...ah ...ah she...is getting dressed jasmine and Tatiana are in the room with her I came down to ask my mother for something "she stuttered
" Strange I thought I just saw Jasmine" she said as she walked away, jasmine and Ana had gone back to the room hoping that when they arrived she would be there or at least one of them would have found her
"I didn't find her, " Jasmine and Ana said in unison, the servant had come saying they were to help with getting her dressed but were sent away
" the groom has arrived " Tatiana said running into the room as she stopped to breathe
" what are we going to do Alexa has never been so irresponsible before " Ana said frowning
" do you think she got scared and ran away " Tatiana said as Jasmine began to pace around
" what are we going to tell everyone, " jasmine said fondling with her bracelet
" We should tell Aunty Mariya that Alexa has run away " Tatiana said
" What?" the three women said in unison as the cup of tea Mariya was holding fell crashing to the ground the three girls turned around
" What did you just say " Mariya said fear in her eyes
" Alexa ran away ?....oh my," Parry said shaking her head
" what is going on Jasmine," emerald said walking up to Jasmine and holding her hands
" no, it is not what you think we were just.... "
" no Ana this is something we can't control anymore ....aunty Mariya, aunty parry, Mother, Alexa ....we can't find her "
"then she ran away," Parry said as she began to pace around
" what do you mean you can't find her....she ran away? " Mariya asked worry was written all over her face
" she didn't run away we can't just find her " Jasmine said looking at Parry
" We have searched everywhere but couldn't find her," Tatiana said
" and the groom just arrived " Ana added
" oh these children maybe she didn't want to get married and decided to run away ....at least it is better than insulting your groom in public " Parry said looking at Jasmine
"Mother!" Ana scolded
" what? am I not telling the truth or she might have eloped with a boy" she said as Mariya staggered sobbing emerald held her as she glared at Parry
" OK we will have to manage this situation until we find her "Emerald said
"Maybe we should just cancel the marriage"
" that is enough now Parry" Emerald shouted
" Tatiana go inform Jayden, he should know possible places she would have gone, Ana manage the people make sure they are entertained in the meantime no one should suspect that there is something wrong, jasmine you and I will search the house again, and Mariya you need to be strong inform your husband of this current situation," emerald said as they all complied.
Ana was managing the crowd quite fine until it began to get late they began asking where the bride was, the groom became restless, his parents and relatives began requesting for the bride's presence. the ceremony was to start in the morning and now it was past noon and the bride was nowhere to be found people began to leave since they had other things to do.
everyone who knew about the current situation met with each person having no good news
" We searched her favourite spots and still didn't find her " Jayden said panting
"what are we to do " Tatiana added
"She's not in the house," Jasmine said with Emerald beside her exhausted
"We would just have to tell the groom at some point," Parry said coming in with her husband Amos following behind Behek, Avery and Mariya entering as well. Parry had informed the chief and his brother about what was happening
"The groom's family are beginning to ask questions, Avery," Mariya said sobbing
" We can't hide it anymore I will inform the guest that there will be no marriage "Avery said as Behek offered to follow him, they had informed the public saying Alexa wasn't well and there would be no marriage the groom's family were all confused given she was alright last night they had to apologize to their relatives for wasting their time
" What is this lieutenant " the groom's father said with a frown
" We are truly sorry for this inconvenience, " Avery said Mariya still crying on the ground with Emerald holding her, the house was already empty since there was no marriage only the groom, his parents and madradons present
" Is she alright ....is it bad? " the groom said worriedly
" I want to see her "his mother added
"She is missing," Parry said as everyone turned to her
"Mother!" Ana scolded
"What. I am not lying ....Alexa ran away from home "
"Parry!" her husband shouted
" What is the meaning of this .....lieutenant what is she saying "his mother said
"no it is not like that...she"
" no chief..... we can't keep this from them Mr and Mrs dukeman we can't find Alexa," Avery said
"she ran away? what is going on she didn't want to get married " Mrs Dukeman said with a frown
" she didn't run away We can't just find her " Jasmine said
" Of course you will defend her am sure you were the one who gave such advice to her ....this is what happens when you let your child associate with someone like Jasmine" she said glaring at Jasmine
"Parry! That is enough now" Amos shouted
" my sister is not like that ....she is responsible I think she is in danger "
" or she is fine enjoying herself with some young man"
" Amos control your wife," Avery echoed
" so the marriage is never going to happen and you lied to us to everyone that she wasn't well "
" We are sorry, we thought she would be found please we can't call off this marriage " Mariya cried out
"where could she be you are her parents you should have an idea!" Mr dukeman shouted
"I think she didn't come back, she never came back last night that explains why her room was left the same way," Jasmine said as everywhere went silent
"what are you saying, " Behek said
" She escorted us last night and I have a feeling she didn't come back "
" what? " Avery said with a shaky voice
" Did any of you see her after the ceremony? " Ana said turning to Avery, Jayden and Mariya
"no I mean I asked Jayden and he said she was back ...." Avery said as everyone turned to Jayden
"But I asked the guards if Alexa came back and he said he saw her," Jayden said
" and I came to her room to ask if she needed anything she said no so I left I didn't bother entering"Mariya said sniffing
" so what does this mean she came back and didn't sleep in her room " the groom said as they decided to confirm from the guard he reported that he saw a female go through the gate she wore a cloak over her head he just assumed it was Alexa
" but Alexa never wears cloaks and she doesn't even like them," Mariya said bursting into tears
"ok if it wasn't Alexa then who was it that came in and who answered in the room" Tatiana said confused
"It was Tiffany that came " Jayden sighed looking down, his fingers running through his hair with agitation, she was the daughter of a marshal and was having a little spark with Jayden
" why was the marshal's daughter here? and late at night !" Avery shouted
"That is not important now we will send some men to search the entire village for her "Behek said
"Don't worry she is fine "Emerald added.
*****END OF FLASHBACK*****
The man had helped Jasmine carry Alexa to her house, her family rushed to her worried as they thanked the man before he left. She had informed Alexa's parents that Ana was coming with the physician
" What happened to her where did you find her," Jayden asked pacing around in the room Alexa was kept, Avery stepped out
"I...don't know I just saw her by the bank of the stream I..."
"Is my..... daughter fine why is she not opening her eyes" Mariya cried out as she tried waking Alexa up rubbing her hands and feet
" the physician is here" Avery said as the physician entered asking everyone to leave the room. Mariya had argued with everyone about leaving she just didn't want Alexa out of her sight but this attitude of hers was getting in the way of the man's work he called out some names as some other females came in with a box which should contain medicines and herbs, after some moment of argument Mariya finally agreed to leave while Ana arrived with the chief, his wife and her parents. the physician had been inside the room with Alexa for a while with no news of whether she's alright or not
"Jasmine is she okay " Ana whispered to Jasmine who was standing outside the room with everyone else
" I don't know the physician has said nothing" The physician soon came out everyone rushed to him
" sir is she alright how is she " Mariya said tears rolling down her eyes emerald by her side holding her
" how is my daughter " Avery asked desperation in his voice the physician said nothing he wore a serious face as he closed his eyes for a second before opening it
"she is doing okay "
" We can see her right....then we can find out why she didn't come back home" Parry said as they all glared at her before turning back to the physician
"what about the blood....cuts on her body she is fine isn't she," Jasmine said
" Can we see her " Ana added as everyone nodded in agreement
" no she is sleeping, she needs to rest I would like to speak to her parents....alone"
"you said there was no problem," Jayden said with a frown as the man sighed looking down before looking at them
"There is a little problem I have noticed and I can only inform her parents about it so please Mr and Mrs. Heinzen come with me" They left with the physician as everyone stood still wondering what the problem was
" why can't we know what the problem is are we not family " Parry complained
"Does staying quiet require much effort for you to do" Amos replied with a frown as she rolled her eyes walking out only returning some minutes before Avery and Mariya returned. everyone was alarmed by the expression they all shared Mariya looked devastated, Avery looked like he was about to cry and Parry looked shocked
"is everything alright" Behek asked frowning as Avery staggered emerald holding stopped him from fall
" are you going to tell them or am I "Parry said as everyone turned to her
"Mother not now alright " Ana spat
"Do none of you want to know why the physician called them separately"
" Aunt Parry please that is enough we are already worried about my sister can you not add to our worries "
" your sister will not be able to get married again not to the groom or another man " Parry said with a frown as her husband held her arm tightly
" I shouldn't have come with you, can't you shut up"
" tell them Mariya.... tell them that Alexa has been defiled," she said ignoring him, Mariya's small sobs turned into full bursts of tears as she began crying
" What ?" they all said in unison
" what are ...you saying," jasmine said looking at her
" you all think I am lying but why is Avery quiet hmmm"
" Avery ?" behek said looking at him
"Father that isn't true right ?"Jayden said as tears threatened to fall he clenched his fist staring at his father both Emerald, Jasmine and Ana expecting an answer
" it is true " Avery replied as Jayden fell to the ground jasmine rushed to him, everyone was shocked and devastated
" I couldn't protect my daughter " Avery cried out
" Are you not going to inform the groom and his family that your daughter is filth, now who would want to marry a girl like her... "
"That is enough "Jasmine shouted cutting her off
" how dare you use that tone with me weren't you taught manners"
"Aunt I was taught manners but I don't think you were taught to know when to speak and how to speak. she is filth? how could you say that ?" Jasmine retorted
" am I lying about the fact that she is filthy now hmmm? She was touched by a man who is not her husband " she shouted as everyone shut their eyes tears rolling down
" what does she mean ?" the groom said coming in with his parents at his back everyone stood up cleaning their tears as they all faked a smile
"Jasmine bring tea " Emerald said as Jasmine tried walking away the groom holding her wrist
" what do you mean by Alexa was touched by a man who isn't her husband"
" it is not what you think she...."Mariya said trying her best not to cry
"Alexa was raped ...they were planning on keeping it a secret from you all, even us their supposed family"
"Parry!" Amos scolded he was furious
"Mr. Heinzen what is this I am hearing," the groom's father said frowning
" no, it's ....." Avery's words were interrupted by a loud cry everyone turned towards Alexa's room which was where the noise was from
" no! No! ...let me go leave me "she cried.