Tales of the Past (Part 2)

Feng watched as Mawi shut the door to the carriage. He then turned around to face Feng, Zoraya and Taru who stood next to each other in that order. "What was it that you once said to me, the last time we met..... ah yes..... You know the rules of the hunt. First come, first serve."

"We are well aware of the rules and unlike you we will follow them," Zoraya responded. "You are free to go."

"Free!" Mawi tilted his head back and gave a roaring laugh. "Did you hear that boys? We are FREE to leave. Make no mistake Zoraya," he took a step towards her. "I don't need your permission. If anything, you are the ones who are FREE to leave." Feng glanced around and saw the rest of Mawi's crew closing in. Ten, maybe twelve figures, moving in the dim light and only leaving the route back to the lodge open.

Mawi looked at Feng but spoke to the others. "Am sure the new father would want to get back to his family in one piece."

Feng held his gaze and gave Zoraya a light tag on her shoulder. As they turned to leave they heard a person moving in the carriage. The figure tried the door and then showed her face through the bars. "Please let me go," she cried as she kept trying to pry the door open.

"Not a chance little girl. Your father's worried about you and he is going to pay me after I make sure that his precious angel, who ran away, gets home safe and sound."

"He is NOT my father."

"Whatever the case, the police recognize him as your guardian. Otherwise they wouldn't have signed off on the bounty he put out."

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Zoraya's eyes locked with Kiki's. "Please, don't take me back to him." Her heart ached but what could she do? If anything how could she be sure that this girl had a good reason to leave her guardian?

"Save your breath. There is nothing they can do for you. In fact, they were just leaving," said Mawi as he took a non-defiant stance.

Zoraya turned around and walked back to the lodge with Taru and Feng following close behind. She led them to the large open room on the ground floor and found a free table, pulled back a chair, plopped her feet on the table as she tilted the chair back and ordered some drinks.

Taru let out a heavy sigh as he sat down. "Well, I guess that's that. Where to next?"

"Home," Feng replied. "I can't wait for you two to meet my baby girl."

Kiki's face flashed in Zoraya's mind.

Stop thinking about her. Nothing good will come of it.

When the drinks arrived, Feng offered a toast. "Here's to not getting knocked out with a frying pan tomorrow." Light laughter went round the table but it was short lived when a young man came running in and stood at the counter, in front of the owner. His quick heavy breathes made him sound almost inaudible. "Excuse me.... My... uhm.... there was a young lady in..... in the fourth room upstairs.... its a mess.... please call the police."

"Oh, you know her?"

"Yes. We..... agreed to.... to meet here but -"

"A bounty hunter came to get her. She ran away from home and he took the job to bring her back to her family."

"Bounty hunters! When?"

"A few minutes ago. There are others that also came to get her but were too late it seems. They are over there." He gestured in the direction of Zoraya and her friends. The young man came stumbling over. "Is it true..... Is it true that..... you are bounty hunters".

Zoraya simply nodded and the young man continued. "The girl that was taken..... please help me get her back."

"And why should we? Her guardian wants her home. Why should we go against him?"

"Because her uncle is only doing this for the money. He is keeping her from me just because he doesn't approve of our relationship and if Kiki gets married, he loses all the money that she is supposed to inherit next year as her guardian."

Feng jumped in. "Right. And am sure you won't get some of her inheritance if you marry her."

"I don't. Not unless she gives it to me. Besides, I work as a stone mason for a living. That old fool doesn't do anything. He lives off his relatives."

Zoraya now understood why her heart went out to Kiki. She reminded her of her own childhood. To be held against your will for the sole purpose of taking advantage of your name or inheritance is something Zoraya could relate to. She gave the young man a teasing look. "What's your name?"

"My name is Ako."

"Ako. Would you be willing to place a bounty?"

"I don't have much money. And am sure the police wouldn't agree to it."

"Oh don't worry about that." She turned to her friends. "Who's up for a hunt that is off-the-books?"

Taru closed his eyes and shook his head, "this won't end well."

Feng looked up at the ceiling, "My wife must be warming up that frying pan right about now."

Zoraya gave Ako a beaming smile. "On behalf of my friends and I, it gives me great pleasure to accept your request."