Lilian_Nkunga

"Kelvin... If I leave, Zula will kill everyone," I said in a shaky voice, before breaking down into sobs. I closed my eyes and allowed the tears to flow freely. If I were to leave, then my previous experiences would come to pass.

"What are you saying? You don't have to be a hero! Someone else can do that!" His voice was already rising. "I don't need a hero... I-I need my sister," he pleaded in a small broken voice. 

Hearing his pained voice shattered my bruising heart into a thousand pieces.

"I love you all," I managed to say.

"What? NO!" he screamed but I cut the connection.



***



A ritual has governed Aromes since its existence.

Every fifty years, the first born child of a family has to face Zula and die.

This year, Xena is chosen.

The morning after her eighteenth birthday, she wakes up to meet her home island devoid of all its inhabitants; including her family. She searches everywhere for all the people but she is unable to find them anywhere. The situation is hard for her to comprehend. At first, she thinks its a joke. She hopes its a prank. She refuses to believe that she has been abandoned. Until she finds the first dead body. The dead mutilated body of her father.

Then she starts hearing and seeing things that aren't meant to be. Horrifying screams, a manic creature, a cloaked figure that only comes when she takes off her glasses.

Only then, does she realize that there is no escape and her inevitable death patiently awaits her.

ALONE: Retold

Her lips tasted just like I had imagined them to. I pulled her head closer and deepened the kiss. I wanted her to realise how much I loved her. I let my love flow through the kiss.

She held my face in her soft hands and leaned even closer to me. I could feel her nipples touching against my chest. I wanted her too but I didn't want it to be because she felt she wouldn't survive this episode of her life.

"Xena..." I called softly as I withdrew from her.

She searched my eyes as she looked confused. Her flushed face and swollen lips made it hard for me to hold back but I had to.

"Whats wrong? Dont you want me anymore?" She asked and I felt like a portion of my heart was falling apart.

"No! Xena never! I will always love you."

"Then why did you stop?" There was a single tear in her eyes and I knew I would break down if I didn't stop it from falling.

I reached my hand to her eyes and wiped it off before it brought more damage.

Rema: The dream