Lights are all out. It's through midnight and there it is again destabing my peaceful sleep. And I've always wondered why I always had to dream of the same thing over and over again and why this particular place. There it went again. I'm drowning in water. I can't reach the surface. I'm being deprived of oxygen as I struggle to breath nor could I swim. My body's fighting for the last bit of air. I'm desperate to get out. My feets were paddling and my hands were up in the air. I try to paddle harder and swim my way out but as I paddle it the more I sink. The waters filled with blood. I don't know who it was but I was running away from something. I had this fear in me. My heart kept beating so fast. I kept on looking down for that something. Few moments later I found myself down to the bottom again. I think it got me. I remember something pulling me down again. It was some kind of a force. I felt tired but I tried to swim up again. A shadow looms over the water. I think it was a bird. It got inside swimming straight to me and I held onto its wings. It swims me up to the surface. I can't see its face nor its entire body. I think my eyes were blinded by the water. But the thing is the whole dream was just so blurry. It got me to the surface and swam out of the water. I was soaking wet. It gave me clothes and I wore them. It later gave me this necklace, the one I'm wearing. It tells me they were looking for me, I looked at it confused. Surprised it could talk or perhaps it was just in my head. It threw me on its back and flew away with me. I looked behind me. Damn, I was in a sea drowning in it. The water dries out behind us. I'm confused, is the world ending? It was just that there was nothing left in it. It was bareless. The plants, flowers, trees were all drying out and even the water in the sea dried out. Many people were dead, it was just so quiet. Perhaps it was the same reason I was drowning. I turned back and put my focus back. It flew me for a long distance and so fast. I tried to hold on tight. After a few minutes it landed down to the ground somewhere in a cave. It got some kind of a bag out. It opened and closed it. I peeked in. It had guns inside. It flew up again to a forest. This same particular place I always find myself at when I always dream. I don't know how but now I was surrounded by a lot of people fighting. It is blurry but I can still see. A girl had laid on the ground, down and defeated. I think she was dead or perhaps was weak. I can't see the others but they were the same age as me. Two birds stood in front of me, the one that rescued me and another one. Big as hell. I'm more confused now. How did I get here? I was down on the ground defeated, injured and was bleeding. I had this connection with these birds. They were kind of fighting me. But I kept on trying to get through them. I've seen these birds multiplied many times in my dreams. I just don't know why, it always ends here. The birds would fight me and I would drown back into the water. I was later awakened by my fathers loud sound.
Chapter 2: The Solace Of Change
" As the morning sunlight peeked through the blinds, the ringing of his cellphone pierced the calm, shrill and insistent: 'Ring, Ring, Ring'." The call was unexpected and had unusual numbers. Elaine's father woke up and answered it. His eyes glinted with happiness when he found out that he got the job after searching for so many years, finally he found one. The job was actually far away from home and he had to work for a company called "A.C construction" in Mexico. He was told he would get the job description at work and may start two days after. He had to leave the next day. He couldn't wait to tell everyone the exciting news so he woke everyone by ringing a bell. The bell sound was so deafening that everyone woke up complaining but he managed to calm them down. He told them the exciting news and that he would have to leave tomorrow to work, and that the job was far away in Mexico. Elaine and her grandfather were so delighted to hear the news, and as for Elaine's mother she wasn't that happy because now her husband had left town to a place so far away from home but had to let him go for the sake of their financial well being and suffering. What troubled her the most was that he would be gone for such a long time but she decided to let him go. As for Elaine, she couldn't believe it, everything seemed like a great solace to her. She went back to sleep dreaming of all the things she would like to have and what she wanted for her birthday this year. She even forgot to switch off the light when she immediately zonked out. Grandfather went to his bedroom thinking about his wife's tombstone that wasn't built yet, whereas his horses were finally getting a new stable and him getting a new couch because the one he had was torned on ends. As for Elaine's mother, she was thinking of renovating the house. Then her father thought of buying a new car as that one he has is old and rusty, and his back always ached from pushing it to start. He also thought of buying new shoes because that one pair he wears had a big hole and clopped too. Again something disturbed their peaceful sleep which was the alarm. Elaine woke up and bathed for school. She had no breakfast to eat but promised herself it was for the last time. She then went to her bedroom again and that's when she noticed she hadn't switched off the light. She switched it off, took her bag and said goodbye to everyone and off she left to school. On the way to school she saw the four she admired the most. She wished she could be friends with them but they were poles apart and her standard of living wouldn't let her. The first girl was Suzette, daughter to Mr Mackenzie who was the Magistrate in Greenland. She was very beautiful with blonde hair and was wholly apart from her. She had the look of etheriallity but she was astute. Second was Alice, one of the prettiest girls, daughter to mayor of greenland and her mother a well known business woman. She had a lovely smile and teeth but was superb. Lastly were the twins namely Alexa and Alexis. They were also captivating, beautiful and you couldn't tell who was who. They had long black hair with black eyes with pale and clear faces. They were said to be colonists and both their parents working so well and their father a traveler. The two twins differed. Alexa was often quiet, scrupulous and never gloated but Alexis was talkative, never paid attention to things or even cared and was haughty. The twins were the same in that they didn't want to see anyone succeed and were rude. There were also stories of the past that their parents in the modern days used to massacre people for power and their mother was an evil fairy that got kicked out from the fairy kingdom. Elaine didn't care about all these rumors, she just wanted to be friends with them. While she was busy looking at the girls, Mrs Barker called for her. Mrs Barker lived across the road to school. No news or gossip would pass her without her knowing first. She knew everyone in Greenland and their deepest secrets, and was older than everyone in the farm but a peer to Elaine's grandfather. Elaine had the greatest affection towards Mrs Barker, she was her Dutch uncle, so she quickly rode to her. The old lady had baked scones for her to school in a lunchbox full of delicious treats. She gave it to her with a little pocket money to buy at school. Mrs Barker as a news lover she then congratulated Elaine's father for getting the job and waved at Elaine. Elaine rode her bike to school wondering how Mrs Barker knew about his father finally getting a job, she just smiled to herself and rode faster to school. She arrived at school in thirty minutes and parked her bike by her class and went inside. She obviously sat alone in her corner like always. She felt so lonely, alienated and sad because she had no one to share her stories with even if they made her happy. She looked around at her classmates with their friends laughing, chatting and telling jokes. She looked at her mysterious friends busy listening to music, laughing and dancing. Her eyes just watered to why would the universe neglect her like this (just leave her all alone, what hurt her the most was that it neglected her when it was all hard for her and even when it was starting to be better). Mrs Smith, her class teacher interrupted her thoughts when she entered the class and with the school bell ringing. Mrs Smith was kind, beautiful, cared and loved her students equally and taught them english. The learners all evacuated to their seats when they saw her coming. Mrs Smith introduced a new topic and told them they were going to do it in groups of five, where each group had to present a speech in front of the class but one by one they were going to do it and each group had to have a group leader. She then handed out papers to them. Elaine looked at it excitedly because she already knew what to do. All learners stood up and went to their groups, and soon all groups were all filled except for Suzette's group. They were shot with one member, but they didn't bother, they didn't care and as for Elaine, she had no group and didn't bother reporting it to the teacher. The school bell rang and they went to a lunch break. Elaine was always the last one to go out for lunch break because she had no friends. She waited for all the learners to walk out of class and she would come out. She took her lunch box that Mrs Barker gave to her and went to the same spot she always sat on. She loved this spot because it had this fresh air, the sun was warm, the trees provided a wonderful shade and had a lovely view of the school. She saw everything from there. She was about to open her lunchbox when she saw Suzette looking at her. She felt embarrassed and didn't look up for the longest time until she saw Suzette and her friends moving away from where they were. She then opened her lunch box and ate. She enjoyed it whilst busy laughing at the other kids in school. The bell rang and they all went back to class for the last two periods. The Second last period was for music class. It was so humdrum. During the lesson Elaine was busy day dreaming. Mr Ames kind of noticed that and asked her to play the high notes. Elaine wasn't concentrating nor was in class when they were busy rehearsing the high notes. She tried playing the high notes but she couldn't play them and to add an insult her violin just screeched, making a high loud sound. Mr Ames just closed his ears and looked at Elaine disappointed. He was just at a loss for words and the whole class burst with laughter. Elaine felt embarrassed and she couldn't wait for the period to end. The lesson took so long and when the bell rang she was the first one to walk out. In the last period they were free. Elaine just sat alone in her corner feeling down in the dumps. Matilda, whose eyes were wandering around, kind of noticed her and decided to join her. Matilda was all sweetness and light. She too had no friends and the whole class saw her weird and often felt lonely. She sat next to Elaine and for a moment they sat quietly without saying anything. Matilda then offered to start the conversation and they found out that they both loved horses, and Matilda was related to Mrs Barker. They were both very happy to have met one another and this was just the start of their new friendship. The after school bell rang and all children evacuated out of school. The two new friends decided to walk together riding their bikes home. Still on the way home Suzette and their friends passed them in a very expensive driven Mercedes benz. This was such an embarrassment to them as they were riding bikes. The car passed leaving dust behind them. It kind of made them sneeze and Elaine's eyes watered, making them cough all the way. They decided to pass by Mrs Barker's house. Elaine took off the lunch box and gave it to Mrs Barker and thanked her once again. She had really enjoyed the scones. They then sat and ate the scones as Matilda Hadn't had them. Mrs Barker then asked Matilda whether she still turned the bottle and Matilda answered without hesitation that she did. She knew exactly what would happen if she didn't. Elaine looked at themb psyched out but no one bothered with explaining to her what they were talking about. The girls then left after eating, riding their bikes home. Elaine tried to ask Matilda about the bottle but she just ignored her instead asked if she would love to ride horses with her in the afternoon. Elaine couldn't agree more, it was what she loved the most and forgot about the matter. They both agreed to meet at the nearby forest so they could both ride their horses. They then reached a path where they had to separate and each took a path home. They waved goodbye and off they went. Elaine's mother was busy cleaning the dilapidated house with the thought of renovating it with the money Elaine's father is going to send. Father and son were in the ramshackled stable, busy discussing how it was going to be built to a new one. Elaine arrived at that instance and greeted everyone. She went to her room and changed her school uniform and wore other clothes. She then went to the kitchen and found out that her mother hadn't cooked yet but luckily she ate at Mrs Barker's. She quickly then wrote her homeworks. As she was writing she couldn't stop thinking about not having a group in the english assignment but she kept easing the pain that she would find a group and that her teacher would find her one. Immediately when the clock striked 16:00, she closed her books and went to the horses stable. She took a horse. That horse was given to her by her garandfather because it resembled her beauty. Her horse's name was Dapper. She then rode the horse and took off to meet Matilda. She found her already waiting for her. They then rode the bikes to the nearby forest. They were both having fun competing on whose horse was faster. They, after so tired of competing, took the horses to drink water. Elaine somehow noticed a place in the forest from far away, where it was so beautiful. It somehow grabbed her attention. She showed it to Matilda and told her they should ride to it. Matilda agreed and they rode to it. They then rode the horses to that place and time they were not competing. But somehow along the way Matilda saw something which took her back to the olden days and for that she no longer wanted to continue walking. What she saw was a sapling of a boomslang tree that made her see red. Eliane tried to calm her down and tried to incite her to continue walking, telling her to let go of whatever it was and kept asking what it was. When Elaine said those words, Matilda just steamed up and turned her horse back home. Matilda just didn't want Elaine to find out about her sordid past. Elaine also decided to turn her horse back and followed her. She tried asking her what made her so angry that she didn't want to continue and was it something from the past. Matilda became more steamed up with tbos pestering that when she got to the lake she veered to a different path that led away from Elaine and that tree. Benevolent Elaine felt sorry for her friend and decided to run after her. She did this surreptitiously so that Matilda couldn't see or notice her. She was feeling a little bit scared. She could feel that there was something wrong. On the way Matilda felt vengeance and bloodthirsty. She couldn't help feeling this way until she felt legarthy and could no longer ride the horse. Elaine was busy following her when suddenly a moon broke from the cloud cover and shone with a lightning striking onto the ground causing the dust to rise into the sky. Elaine fell off her horse. It then became misty. Then within the moon a glare appeared from it which made Elaine's eyes hurt causing her not see anything but brightness. Just after the glare's occurrence a storm formed, causing the lake's water to rise into the sky. Somehow this caused cold air, followed by wind cycles. This wind was very strong and made the lake's water look as big as houses. So in the sky there was a big revolution of water, wind and the clare at the center of everything. While this was happening Matilda fell onto the ground and the water made a big bubble onto the sky, and busted with a loud sound of plop, and the wind with storm just stopped, with the moon and the glare suddenly vanishing from the sky. Elaine slowly came out from where she was. She looked like she was at sea. For the first time she didn't know what to do because she was between the devil and the deep blue sea. She kept thinking of going to her friend but on the other hand she thought of going home. While on her thought, she heard the horse crying shame. She then nimbly followed the horse's crying. She found the horse kneeling down at Matilda as if it was saying something or perhaps understood what was going on. Elaine then also kneeled down next to it looking at her friend who lied hopelessly and deadly on the ground. She then tried to touch Matilda but to her surprise she couldn't feel Matilda's body. It was like she was vanishing from it. This caused her eyebrows to raise more. For the second time it was smoke and mirrors for her again. She then decided once more to go back home and to get help because her friend was not well and had magically fainted after such a terrible experience. She nimbly rode her horse and ran back home. She found her mother cooking and her father reading a newspaper. She had no time to explain anything to them but told them to follow her to the forest.Her parents just stood there and stared at her but she couldn't wait any longer, she decided to fetch them their horses from the stable. Her parents refused to leave but demanded answers. She then had no choice but to explain. She just told them half of the story that Matilda had fainted and she had left her lying helplessly on the ground with her horse. After that Elaine just rode her horse and told to follow her so they could see for themselves. Her parents had no choice but rode their horses and followed their daughter who looked like a horse with blinders. They set off to the same spot where Elaine left Matilda. When they got there, they found the horse eating grass and there was no sign of any Matilda. Elaine just couldn't believe it. She kept on this absurd and hopeless search, calling for Matilda but still there was no sign of her coming out or answering her. Elaine hopelessly sat down and her parents looked at her provocative because there was no way that they were hastily taken out of the house for nothing, just to view the forest and to see a horse eating grass. His father couldn't help himself but asked Elaine where was this Matilda or was there never any Matilda, she was just hallucinating. Elaine spoke adamantly that Matilda was there when she left but was also delirious. His father couldn't stand this nonsense but decided to return home. He held his horse whereas her mother followed as he bellowed angrily at Elaine to get so they could leave. Elaine shyly stood up ready to leave. She rode her horse with her eyes full of tears, disappointment and with curiosity. His father took Matilda's horse so he could be able to control it. They were about to leave their house when Elaine's father tried to pull Matilda's horse to leave with them but the horse stood still from where it was without moving. Elaine's father tried with all his effort with the help of Elaine's mother but the horse just didn't bother to move. They kept on trying and trying until it just dissipated in front of them. Their eyes popped out, they all looked at one another. Elaine's father bellowed at them once to leave and Elaine's mother to agree with him. They then left the forest at once. Elianes father aired out his grievances out of Elaine to why she came to this forest with this so-called Matilda. Elaine just turned a blind eye on his father. She felt bereaved and felt the death of her friend. She kept crying in silence until she reached home. She just couldn't believe Matilda had been there when she left, had she disappeared like her horse, what was that, she asked herself. When they got home Elaine's father had already cooked and dished out for them. They just went to the dinner table and ate. At the dinner table it was so tense, no one would talk. Elaine's grandfather just kept looking at them with his face mixed up. He then asked them what was wrong. Then Elaine's mother and father started to argue about what happened at the forest, not knowing this was the start of their problems and that Matilda was the one they saved years ago. Elaine tried not to belabor the point but needed to explain things in detail for everyone to understand but only giving them a few details. She didn't tell them about the storm. This conversation ended up getting to a point where Elaine couldn't take it any more so she decided to leave the table and go take a nap because this day was just so exhausting. It was a bad hair day indeed for her. She was about to catch some Z's when her grandfather entered her room. He was too concerned about her, he always was. He asked her what actually happened to Matilda. But Elaine was also just so lost. She just told him that Matilda got taken by wild animals, whereas the horse aliens, if there were any. His grandfather just told her that she was overthinking things. He told her that maybe Matilda decided to run away because she felt embarrassed maybe by her behavior whereas with the horse itay be magic and her not be able to feel Matilda body, it was probably her being imaginative. He told her that Matilda would come back home when she was feeling much better and to be happy because tomorrow was the day his father would leave for work. Elaine just masqueraded with a smile and immediately zonked out. Before his grandfather left he told her, she will find answers that she seeks for.
Chapter 3: When The Past Comes Alive
The sun rose upon the valleys and the birds were singing wonderfully by the trees. It was indeed a great day for the kharah family. Elaine's mother woke up, bathed and went to wake Elaine up who was deep in sleep. Elaine woke up and went to open the curtains with great ecstasy. She went to the bathroom and took a bath. She enjoyed singing with the birds. She felt exhilarated today because her father was starting on this new job. She then went downstairs and found her mother preparing breakfast. She cooked everything that was in the cardboards just to prepare her husband a wonderful send off. Everyone had this list of everything they wished to have. After breakfast they all accompanied Elaine's father to the bus station. They had spent their last cents on him so he could go to this dream job. They all cried out when he first set his foot on the train. They just couldn't believe that he had found a job after searching for so many years and that they could now live better. They all waved goodbye to one and only son, husband and father of the house. That day for the first time Elaine had to ride a taxi to school. She arrived at school in no time and that was when her happiness faded. She went straight to her class and sat by her corner just like she always did everyday, feeling long in the tooth. She sadly looked at Matilda's desk who she thought was gone to meet one's maker. The thought of her filled her with sadness. She kept thinking she would enter by the door. But time passed and the school bell rang and Matilda still hadn't arrived yet. She flared up when she looked up at the door thinking it was her entering but only to find that it was Mrs Smith. Mrs Smith greeted her learners and took no notice that Matilda was not in school. She asked whether everyone was ready to present their speech and from then we saw a little hand rising up. Mrs Smith pointed to Elaine. A soft voice was heard "I don't have a group mam for the assignment", she said shyly. Mrs Smith answered disappointedly "And why didn't you say yesterday?". She then told her to join Alice's group. She stood up and went to them so excited and greeted them. They all replied except for Alexis, she was busy with her cellphone. "Earth to Alexis", shouted Alice. It was then Alexis answered but rudely so. Mrs Heinz then gave each group topics and called each group to come forward and to perform because there was no more time anymore. Each group came forward and from the third group it was when she noticed that Matilda was not at school. She then asked the whole class where she was and the whole class grew quiet. Then we only heard Alexis murmuring to Elaine "Weren't you with her yesterday, your new friend, you do deserve each other, you're the same", she said busy typing on her cellphone. Elaine just turned a blind on Alexis and continued to discuss her ideas with the others. Suzette, Alice and Alexa felt amenembled to her idea. Alexis was only busy with her cellphone, she seemed to have been gloating about it being new and it was the latest iphone 14. She knew no one had it in class, she was the only one who owned it. For she always referred to herself as not being every tom, dick and harry. Then it was time for Elaine's group to come forward and to present their speeches. Their speeches were scintillating and were done amicably. The whole class including Mrs Smith were impressed. Elaine was busy looking at her classmates clapping their hands when happened to see Matilda clapping at her desk with the rest of the class. Her smile faded a bit and she felt dizzy for a moment. Suzette noticed her and asked "Is there something amiss", she asked. "Everything just fine, yeah just fine, nothings wrong", answered Elaine in a lowered voice. They then went back to their seats and Elaine almost fell while walking to it. Whereas Suzette couldn't stop looking at her. There were a few minutes left for the period to end after they had sat down and the school bell just rang, and the students went for lunch break. Elaine decided not to go for lunch break today, she decided to stay in class. She just sat alone thinking about what happened earlier, did she really see Matilda. She even went to her desk and double checked for her. Suzette on the other hand just couldn't hold herself, she kept looking at her as she looked lost in Matilda's desk. She then called for Alice but Alice was just caught up with the conversations they were having with the others, she asked her what was Elaine doing in Matilda's desk butas I've said Alice answered the opposite saying she missed her friend. She just told she was overreacting but Suzette could see the worry in Elaine's face. Alice just turned away from Suzette and continued to chat with the rest of the crew. So Suzette couldn't help herself but decided to go to Elaine and ask her herself. Before Suzette could have said anything to Elaine the school bell rang and soon the class was overcrowded and with so much noise. She could no longer talk to her. She just dawdled back to her seat. The fifth period was for music class and nothing much happened. They then went to the next period. So today the science teacher was present in school. Mr van der Vlugt entered the class and obviously he didn't greet them like he always did. He just told them they were going to perform an experiment but as individuals. The experiment was about ice melting. He simply gave them the apparatus and read them instructions. He then told them to start performing the experiment. Elaine simply started to do the experiment following the instructions given. She did the first method and placed the tripod stand together with the bunsen burner. She then tried to pour the ice cubes onto the glass beaker but they kept falling. She was busy picking them up when she felt a hand touch hers, she looked up it was Matilda. She was picking up the ice cubes too. She completely freaked out and quickly snatched her hand away from Matilda, and screamed. Mr Van der Vlugt notices that and goes to her. He asked her what was wrong, what had gotten her so frightened. Elaine couldn't answer, it was like something had caught her tongue. She just hesitated and pointed to Matilda who stood there glaring at her. Mr Van der Vlugt couldn't see what she was pointing at, he only saw the walls of the class. The whole class just got into stitches except for Suzette and Alice who were both confused. In the midst Matilda just dissipated in front of her. This made Elaine to be more frightened and to run out of class. She just couldn't believe it, was it really her for she had felt the touch of her hand and really disappeared in front of her. She was completely lost. Suzette just couldn't help herself; she decided to run after her but Mr Van der Vlugt sat her down. She sadly dawdled back to her seat. "Has anyone noticed or is it me who's noticing that Suzette is starting to care more about Elaine?"asked Alexis, holding her chicks. The bell rang after school and Elaine went back to class. She took her bag and off she left before someone could have asked her anything. Suzette saw her leaving and decided to follow her while Alice was busy calling for her. Alice kept calling for her until she also decided to follow her. Elaine first went to Matilda's place and got told that there was no one there, they told her that they last saw Matilda when she took her horse and left. She also asked where Matilda's parents were but she was told she had no parents, her parents were six feets under so Matilda stayed alone. Elaine couldn't believe what she just heard so she decided to leave for the forest. Suzette and Alice were also shocked by what they had just heard so they both too followed Elaine to the forest. Alexa and Alexis were both furious at Suzette and Alice for not walking with them. On the road Elaine had this thought that perhaps she would find Matilda where she left her, that yesterday was just a coincidence. Of course she arrived at the forest but still there was no Matilda there. She then continued with her wild goose chase but she got stuck on a hole while she was still on it and fell. Slyly Suzette and Alice found themselves a perfect place to hide whereas seeing everything. Elaine was about to get up when she saw Matilda's bracelet laying from the grass. She quickly snatched it out of the grass. To her surprise, it was covered in blood. Elaine felt anguished and for that stood up and looked for more clues, thinking that maybe she would find her body. She got rooted to the same spot when she saw more blood from the ground. She slowly sat down and cried herself out. For she was crying shame. Suzette and Alice also watered when they saw Elaine holding the bracelet covered in blood. They felt downcasted, bereaved and sad nor were they friends with Matilda but still she was their classmate. And went to meet the maker. She just decided to kick the bucket. Elaine kept crying and had kneeled down onto the blood carpet. She couldn't believe it, what she feared the most was actually true. She kept digging and digging for more blood hoping she would find her friends' remains. She was completely haywired and seeing the blood on the ground just made her go into an orbit. He heart mind and soul filled with words;
I had been lonely for sometime
It's been so cold and so dark
That I have been in a tunnel
My life as dull as a dishwasher
Happiness was just scarce as a hen's teeth
It was a ghost of a chance
But then I met you Matilda, I remember
I was sitting alone in class and you came to me
For the first time in my life I had a friend
For after every tunnel there's light
for that little moment I spent with you, I felt alive
I somehow felt the earth slipping through my feet
When I was with you
But nevertheless it was never promised to be forever
I thought I had found a friend, a lifelong friend
Oh, how fickle this life we live in
Elaine living in a fool's paradise
It never occured to me that the sea
will one day betray the ocean
I always thought that glory was always in winning
But that day it was meaningless
I didn't notice that the was a devil in details
as we went to the forest
You gave me hope and after disappeared on me
But can I blame you
No one knew it would turn out that way
My heart just wanna convey this to you
for life has become meaningless again
I may be forlorn, melancholy, sad,
miserable, sorry, upset and wretched
now that you are gone
But this emotions will just express how I feel
but will never bring you back
And that's just a bitter pill I have to swallow
And so being the gospel truth
But in due course will shall meet
My grandfather always told me;
Life is a race
It either you win or lose
Tomorrow is never promised to anyone
No one knows what tomorrow holds
But you should race with it
And should expect obstacles along the way
Bad or good, they are opportunities to learn
Oh, how have I believed in this solace of change
Maybe you were just a poignant in my life
you were just there to cause sadness and pitiness
I guess life is always unpredictable
Bid adieu to you, Matilda
For every goodbye is a new scar to me.
She then screamed "No" so loud that she could have woken the dead. She then stood up ready to leave but before she left, she wiped her tears and took the bracelet, placed it in her pockets and after she left. It was her still walking when she heard voices of people crying. She followed them and while on the way she saw Suzette's school bag. She went straight to It but when she got there, she found two of them. This alarmed her, she was not alone all along. She took the two bags and continued to follow those voices. And from there behind a bush Suzette and Alice sat crying. They both looked at her as they saw her shadow looming over. She tried to explain but shushed her. Telling her they had seen everything but they needed to know what really happened to Matilda. Elaine was about to explain when suddenly the moon broke again through the cloud cover and shone again with lightning striking onto the ground and the dust rising with great force and abundance. It again became misty. Again within the moon a glare appeared, this time shining over the Boomslang tree, with it causing the three girls not to see anything but brightness. This time it was very massive and strong. In the midst the storm formed again, causing the lake's water to rise into the sky. Causing strong wind circles. Massively onto the sky there was a revolution of water, wind and the glare appeared at the center. The sound of the wind sounded a bit too scary and the look of the tides of the water were pretty too much, causing the ground to shake. While this was happening, a spaceship appeared from the sky and it directly positioned itself onto the Boomslang tree. And from that spaceship something came falling from it. That something was about to reach the ground and once again the water made a big bubble in the sky and wind creating a tornado and the moon getting smaller and smaller with the glare shunning less lightly so three girls could see everything. Whereas the glare remained positioned onto the Boomslang tree from the center of everything. Then something finally landed into the ground, landing with a huge sound and making the ground shake. And from then everything just vanished from the sky. Everything went back to normal like nothing ever happened. Suzette, Elaine and Alicebwere quaking in their boots after this such occurrence. They got rooted to the same spot for almost a minute or more as they watched something that fell from the spaceship at bay not knowing what to do. One after the other, they shoved another to go and look at something. They then decided to walk altogether to the tree. When they got there, they found a puppet. They stood there glaring at it and nervously Alice tried to pick it up when it opened its eyes. They all ran away scared leaving their shadows and school bags behind. They were now near Mrs Barker house when Alice stopped running and told them to go back to the forest. Elaine and Suzette weren't so sure whether to go back or not and were very concerned about why the puppet would be sent to them. Alice was very meticulous about this, so she kept insisting that they went back. "I hadn't realized the enormity of Matilda's death", said Ealine, taking a deep breath. Suzette then asked what she was talking about. Elaine just sat them down and decided to tell them the whole story of what happened at the forest that day. After the sob story was told, Alice couldn't believe how a person can disappear to nowhere then later her bracelet gets covered with blood and her horse also disappears from the middle of nowhere. She said "This is a coincidence and it's just convoluted". Suzette just couldn't connect her thought to the fact that Matilda disappeared and later appears a puppet and what was happening onto the sky, and where would such a spaceship like that come from. She also thought Matilda was taken by that spaceship, somehow by aliens. They then decided to text their parents telling them they were having afternoon classes and shall come back late from school. They then went back to the forest where they left the puppet. When they got there they found the puppet now sitting on top of a tree, just taking a nap whilst enjoying the shade and the breeze which was kind of strange. They now took good observation of it. Elaine somehow saw that it resembled Matilda. It was thin with a round face, black long, tapered ears and big blue eyes. They then decided to take it with them. But before they could take it, a letter came falling from it. Elaine picked it up and read as follows;
Dear Elaine, Suzette and Alice
I know I've caused deception and bewilderment. Pitched a curve onto your lives. Somehow you ended up at seas, at sixes and sevens. Feeling the need for an explanation of what is happening. My disappearance caused you to believe things ain't true. At this juncture believing that I am somewhat dead which has left you with great sorrow, bereft and tumultuous. You have cried yourselves out for almost nothing. For you to feel bereaved is such a distant dream you had to endure. Having and asking yourselves so many conundrums and so on. In some of you I had only become an apple of an eye. Maybe my disappearance was just smoke and mirrors to hide the real truth. I know I am now talking in circles but also acknowledge that you've gone through the mill for me... So that is why I decided to write this letter to enlighten you. To find answers you seek for: first you have to find my bracelet. Once you have it, take it and separate it into three with a special spell but with the help of that puppet. Yes, the puppet may come in handy and be useful too. Then the puppet shall explain everything to what happened that day and what led to that. For I am the puppet myself. Please know that I am not dead.
It's me, Matilda
"I guess we do have to take the puppet with us", said Suzette looking at them. They all looked at one another. They were so scared to touch it, they still lost how can it be Matilda. Elaine reached out her hand and slowly took it. She placed it in her school bag. She then closes it slowly looking at it but it was just a sleeping doll. They then left. Suzette somehow stopped along the way. She asked lost "So where are we going to keep it". "In my tree house at home, I guess", answered Alice. They then walked to her place and kept it there. Alice promised to look after it. It was already late, they just exchanged contacts and Suzette and Elaine left for their homes. When Eliane arrived home, she found her mother trying to call her father again and she also tried but it went straight to voicemail. They thought he was busy with work, you know how first days at work are like. Elaine quickly went bath and after settling for dinner with her mother and grandfather. After they were done eating, they went to sleep. Suzette and Alice found thirty missed calls from both Alexa and Alexis but they didn't bother to call them back8. It was already 21:00 pm when both Elaine and Alice received a text that they shouldn't go to school. Elaine and Alice replied "why" to the text. Suzette then told them that they should find answers of what really happened to Matilda that day in the forest. Both Elaine and Alice agreed to do so but how were they going to do it. Suzette told them that: We simply wear uniforms, pretend to go to school but before we reach Mrs Barker house we will go to this ramshackle home to hide until all children are gone. But by that time I guess Alice's parents will long be gone for work. Then we will leave the ramshackled house and use the path from the forest to walk to Alice's home.vAnd we shall go to the puppet and find answers. Alice then asked what would happen to the twins because they were noisy, they would probably call them so they could walk to school. Suzette told her that they will both send them texts claiming to be sick or something and also to Mrs Smith. They then agreed to do so.
Chapter 4: The Puppet's Tale
Soon night time was over and they all woke up and bathed, got dressed for school, ate and pretended to go to school. They met in that spaza shop and when they were near Mrs Barker house they veered to their ramshackled house. They sat there until all the learners were all gone to school and the streets were so quiet. One by one they text the teacher. Elaine lied to say she was looking after his grandfather because he was sick and her mother at work. Alice lied to say she was sick. She is said to have asma (pretending to be her mother). Suzette didn't send a text to anyone but decided to faint in front of her parents so they said she mustn't go to school. Everything was well for them and soon when there were no more kids in the streets, they left for Alice's place. They used the backyards gate so no one would notice them entering. They went straight to the tree house and found the puppet sleeping. They stood by the door looking at it. Elaine took out the bracelet from her bag. "Someone has to wake it up and it's not me", said Alice holding the door handle."And not me either", said Suzette, also standing from a corner. Elaine had no choice, she slowly walked to it and touched it with the bracelet. It immediately became awake. It opened its big eyes. Elaine slowly moved backwards. She then reached out her hand and gave the puppet the bracelet. The puppet tool and divided it into three with a spell. The girls stood amazed, was it magic, they asked themselves. It gave the bracelets back to Elaine. Suzette and Alice moved closer and sat down. Elaine gave them the bracelets. The puppet spoke. "It's often quite strange to see things like this but yes I'm a talking puppet and I'm also Matilda. I was cursed into it and therefore I'm not dead. It's just that now everything now is terrible", said Matilda the puppet, her eyes wide open surprised to see Suzette and Alice. She never thought they were generous. They again looked at one another, Alice torches it again. Matilda the puppet just laughed. Its voice indeed sounded like Matilda's. "So what really happened to you, we'd like to know how come you're alive but also a puppet, and your things were kind of covered in blood, and not only that you disappeared out of nowhere that day and my parents thought I was crazy", spoke Elaine curiously. Alice opened her eyes ready for the answers to be delivered into her ears. The puppet just said with a wry smile that they must relax and must fetch everything they shall need, whether food, water or blankets because the story was long and no destruction was needed. Alice then secretly went to the house and took all the things they would need. She took food, water, juice, and blankets to feel warm themselves. She took one blanket for Matilda, and ran back to the tree house. The puppet told them to brace themselves for she had to start her story. "Here I start", she said wryly.
Night of the long knives where all people were massacred. The whole world was being attacked by evil. Many more than a million people died that night. Those who were strong enough, had magical powers were taken by the witch to make new pourshins and others to her servants and lastly those who were seen as weak got killed and were taken and buried in pits that were dug outside their towns. Everything that day was destroyed, homes, businesses, banks, belongings, farms got burnt. Mostly time, loyalty, trust, honesty, hope and love in such a way that the world had to start all over again. I was only twelve years when I had to witness my mother's death, I never knew my father, let alone to have met him. I was hiding in one of the pits that were dug in there and luckily the way I was in was hidden by the bushes so they couldn't see it nor my mother was one of the good fairies who did nothing but to save the world from evil. She had always survived in her battles but that day, it wasn't for her. She was about to kill that evil witch when her friend stabbed her with a sword at the back of her chest, and bad enough she wasn't wearing the necklace that protected her from death. She had given it to me. She died slowly looking at the pits where I was, for I was looking at her. She first gave me hope, woke up, stood a little bit but then she fell down. I then only heard the evil witch shouting that she was gone and they all saw it as triumph, the evil witch gleed with happiness at my mothers death. My eyes just watered, I felt tears in my eyes, for fear had already knocked and I had opened. The only thing I could smell was loneliness. I saw from that day evil was going to rule. After my mothers death, they decapitated every person's head. And I only heard a man murmuring that they wanted the five gemstones and the emerald and I only saw the man's head being decapitated. I hid in those pits until the killing was over, until I felt quietness, that there was no more noise, that there were no more gunshots, no lightning strokes from the witch or people screaming death but what I also felt was coldness. I kept peeping for my mother, hoping she would come and fetch me. But time started to pass and it grew more quiet and darker. I quickly ran to her, whom I found dead lying on the ground with blood scattered around her. I started to cry hoping she would wake up. I couldn't believe it. She left me without saying goodbye or even kissed me. I cried, weeped, sobbed and for a moment I found myself sleeping next to her until I felt a hand touching me and a voice telling me to wake up. It was the hand of an old lady. That lady was Mrs Barker, my mother's aunt. She told me to leave with her. For a moment I stood lost, for I didn't know what to do, for me and my mother it had to be a cross-road and I must either leave or stay with her. But I then lingered over the choice. I decided to leave with Mrs Barker. We walked to a mountain and I felt relieved because we weren't the only ones that survived the killing. We all took a long walk, on this long trek, famished until we reached a forest. That forest was the one Elane saw that day. That forest had a wonderful ambience. Its amenities were what satisfied me the most. We got to the forest and we tried seeking for a place to sleep in and we found it. It was a big cave and we decided to stay in it for safety. We were all filled with fear. We then ended up spending our everyday lives in the cave: gathering food, water and spending nights. Nights and mornings my eyes were filled with tears and I was angry at my foe for killing my mother, and it grew both day and night until it bore my heart into pieces. I would just wish that I would see my foe dead lying like my mother that day. I told my wrath, my wrath did end. It was because I never heard from her ever since she died that day but Mrs Barker ensured I was well taken off. And as time passed by I went to school, for I had once enjoyed going to school. Everyone stayed in peace, joyful, happy and full of laughter. It was one day when I had aged 18 years old and Mrs Barker took me to the fairy land where my mother once lived. She took me to her palace and we went to a secret room where we found a secret door. We entered there and found long stairs that led to another small room. When we got there, we had to dig a hole in the wall and we discovered a small brown bag. Mrs Barker opened it and to my surprise it had the five gemstones together with the emerald. Mrs Barker told me to take care of these precious stones and yi never let anyone take them. I had to ensure that the evil witch mustn't find them because if she did, it would pose a great threat to the whole world. I first refused to take the bag but then I thought of those innocent fairies, the innocent people I left behind and my mother who always fought for justice. I then agreed to take the bag and look after those stones. We then went back to the forest and I hid them in a very special place of my own, which no one knew. It was not long enough that people around the cave started to ask Mrs Barker who I was. Mrs Barker first, second and many times decided to ignore them but then they were so pestering that she got tired and told them the truth. She told them I was Matilda, daughter to Lindsay, the queen of the fairies. Somehow, someone discovered that I had the gemstones together with the emerald and went out to snitch on the evil witch, wizard and the sorcerer and became one of them. He went there to snitch cause he wanted to be seen as loyal for he feared death but never knowing he was signing us a death sentence. The three evils saw me as a threat to them for people in the forest all believed in me and I had all they wanted. So brace yourselves ladies cause this is where I answer all your questions, this where… ( she doesn't continue)
They got interrupted by the noise of the children coming from school. They soon had to leave and Alice's parents could be back at any time. They all packed everything back inside the house and made sure they left Matilda the puppet was locked inside safely with food. Alice quickly went inside and took off her school uniform and pretended to be writing her school work. Suzette found her parents not at home yet and when they arrived they found her sleeping. Elaine found her mother already at home with her grandfather sitting under a tree trying again to call her father who never answered his phone nor would it ring. Elaine greeted them and went inside the house, took off her school uniform, ate and sat about two hours in the house pretending to write her homeworks. Somehow her grandfather noticed that she had arrived earlier today than before but he kept quiet. She then went to them and sat under the tree also. She too tried calling her father but still it wasn't answered. They all kept calling even grandfather up until they gave up. They went to sleep for the second day not knowing what was going on with him. During the nights Elaine's mother received a message saying "I am fine, stop calling". The message was from Elaine's father. Somehow got relieved but it didn't sit well with her that hadn't spoken to him. She couldn't hold herself but replied to the text asking why isn't answering their calls and why to stop calling. This text was left unanswered and Elaine's mother got angry and called him. The phone call was answered by someone else, not Elaine's father. He just told Mrs kharah not to call anymore or else...( he didn't continue, he just ended the call). Elaine's mother couldn't believe it, she kept looking at her cellphone and the words call ended. She then couldn't sleep thinking about what the man wanted to say to him, and why couldn't he continue, and why didn't her husband not answer his phone but give it to another man. The man had a squeaky voice and he was stuttering which was what Elaine's father never did. And Mr kharah had a loud deep voice. Elaine's mother didn't sleep that night, not even a wink. She only did that when she was angry, sad or worried about something. Her instincts were never wrong.