UNBREAKABLE Novel Chapter 3

3

RISUNA

I get up quickly from the bed when the door opens. It’s this hunter. Well,that’s what he is. He was out hunting when he found me. I am grateful that he found me before i could die but he needs to let me go back home now.

He looks at me then smiles. He has a couple of shopping bags. I know those shopping bags. The shop belongs to my family. It’s my mother’s. This means he went there but failed to take me with. Why?

“Look what i got for you. I took all the money I worked for today and went to get you more clothes and toiletries. You have everything you need here. ” He smiles. He has a beautiful smile but right now it’s making me angry! The beautiful smile is nothing! He is evil!

“You went to my village and left me here?”

“Oh,you recognize this shop?”

“Yes. My mother owns it! Please take me home. I’m begging you. My father will give you anything you want. Please. “

“Mmh. I saw him,your father. I think that was your brother that he was with. The villagers are so heartbroken over your disappearance. They are busy looking for you but they will never find you. Your family is so sad.”

“Then why don’t you let me go?!”

“Calm down. You’re one of us now. Don’t worry about my parents. When they ask i will say you’re our maid that i got for them. There’s nothing much to do here. My sisters do everything. So you will just help here and there.” I go back to bed and give him my back. I’m angry,sad,and hurt.

“Do you want to know how I found you? The truth.” I sniff. I don’t want to answer him.

“When I found you you were unconscious. The person who hit you was not alone. It was a group of boys. After hitting you they were ready to stone you to death. They had big stones in their hands and ready to do whatever they wanted to do. They are from this village. I ran to them and they stopped. I took you and brought you here.” It doesn’t change the fact that he’s also bad. Why is he keeping me here?

He tries to make conversation but I ignore him. I miss my family. I don’t want to be here with strangers. I am thankful for his help but why keep me at his home? What will he gain? I don’t want to be one of them. I belong to my family and not his. And what are they going to pay me with when I am their maid? They don’t look like they can’t afford a maid here. Are they going to pay me with corn or the animals that they hunt for? Is that it?

It’s in the evening. I pleaded until I got tired but he didn’t change his mind. He is still adamant on keeping me here. I wonder where it’s going to end. Will he let me go or i will continue staying here? I don’t want that.

There’s a knock at the door. At least this time he knocks like a decnt person, not just budge in here. I get up and walk to the door and open. When he sees me he smiles.

“You’re so beautiful. Come and have dinner.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to be here. I still want to go home.” He takes my hand by force and walk with me to the place where they make the fire and cook on. Everyone is sitting here and enjoying themselves.

I take a chair but it’s taken from my hand. “No woman sits on the chair.” I know that’s what’s in his mind right now. I sit on the reed mat and wash my hands.

“What kind of maid is this? Doesn’t she know our ways? She doesn’t know that chairs are only for man?” The mother asks.

“Mom,this is your daughter in law. She doesn’t know our ways because she’s from the city.” The rude brother says. The mother smiles widely. The father looks at his son then shakes his head. Nxla!

We eat with them talking nonstop. They are a lovely family. They love each other and that’s evident. But still they want to keep me here against my will. Who does that?

After dinner I do my maid duties. I take the plates to the kitchen with the sisters. They are nice. We wash the plates together then I go to the hut. The rest of the familly has moved to the hut that they use as a kitchen. The sisters went to bed.

Something in me says I should go out. I get up and go to the kitchen. I stand by the door and listen. I know it’s not good to eavesdrop but I must do it.

“Why is this girl really here? Is she really a maid?” His father asks.

“Yes dad. She was looking for a job and I decided to help. She doesn’t mind being paid by sorghum and dry maize as long as her family gets something to eat.” I almost laugh. Dry maize? I can afford to pay 10x what he makes on a day! What would I do with dry maize and sorghum?

“Where is she from?” His mother.

“The village on the other side.”

“Huh!” His mother exclaims. I guess she’s shocked by this revelation.

“Who else knows?”

“Just me and Dzunisani.”

“Mlunghisi! Get that girl out of here! I don’t want her here. Do you know what will happen when the villagers find out about this? They are going to kill her!” Finally. Someone with sense.

“Dad,no one knows her.”

“I don’t care. If I wake up in the morning and find her here you won’t like what I will do. I will hand her to the chief myself and it’ll be over for her.”

I run back to my hut. Well,it’s mine now. I need to come up with a plan. I cannot stay here. I need to leave.

“Risuna,open for me. ” I open and he comes in and locks the door. I get into bed and lie on my back. He gets in next to me.

“Why are you in this bed?”

“It’s mine and I have no other room to sleep in. “

I take deep breaths. He’s making me mad. Now I’m forced to share the same bed with him? God,what is this?

“Relax. I won’t do anything to you.”

“I heard your dad. He’s going to take me to the chief and the villagers will kill me. Is that what you want?”

“Trust me,that won’t happen. I will protect you just like I’ve been doing. Good night,princess.” He switches off the candle and puts the sheet on top of us. Mxm. I need to come up with a way to get out of here before they kill me.

MLUNGHISI

I stay awake staring at her. She fell asleep soon after I put the sheet on top of us. I know that I took her from that forest to make sure she’s alright, but when I got here i changed my mind. I was not going to let her go. But right now my mind is in conflict with my heart. I don’t know whether to let her go or keep her here.

My heart doesn’t want to let her go. I’ve gotten used to having a around. In just a few days i already feel the change she’s brought here. To me. I feel like letting her go is not the right decision. I want her to stay here. I just have to keep the fact that she’s from our enemies village a secret.

I can keep secrets. The problem is my father. He doesn’t want to get on the chief’s wrong side. I don’t blame him though. There are consequences to doing that. Which is what dad is afraid of. I will see what to do. She is not going anywhere. I fix the sheet on her and blow the candle off and sleep.

In the morning I wake up to an empty bed. She is not here. I get up panicking. Where did she go? She can’t be out there! Dad will forcefully take her to the chief and things will go from bad to worse! I don’t want that. I need her by my side so that she will be safe.

I walk out and go to my sisters’ room and she’s not there. Where could she have gone? She will get lost around here. She doesn’t know anyone. She only knows my family. What if she takes the wrong way and runs into dangerous people? Or find herself in places she shouldn’t be in! This is all my fault. I should have locked the door and kept the keys. I was starting to trust her. That’s why I left the keys on the door.

“What are you looking for so early in the morning?” Dad asks.

“Risuna. She’s not here. I woke up and found her gone.”

“That’s good. I’m sure she’s probably home by now.” I see this makes him happy.

“Dad,nothing is good about her leaving. She doesn’t know the way home. I need to find her.”

“When you find her take her to her parents. I don’t want to see her here again. I hope you understand. ” I walk away from him and go to my room and prepare to leave. She can’t be that far. She has to be somewhere around. I will start at the forest. I have to find her. Or else I will go crazy thinking something happened to her.

Havinng Risuna here brought peace to my life. I found myself smiling after a long time. I found myself happy. It’s like she brought this change to me. Even though she was sad i was happy being around her and now she is gone. What i know is that I will find her and bring her back. Even if I have to hide her in my room I will do it.

If I let her go I don’t think i will see her again. It will be dangerous for me to go to her village to see her. Those people will bury me alive once they find out who I am. It will bring pain to my mother. So the only way is for me to look for her and hope that i find her.

“Bro,tell me something. What’s so special about that girl that you want to keep her here?” Dzunisani asks,standing behind me.

“Now is not the time for questions. I have to hurry up so that i can find her. “I walk away from him.

“Do you love her?” I look back at him then continue walking. It doesn’t matter how far she is. I will find her. I have to.

………