“This wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go,” I barely choked out.
“I know man. I know,” he said as he sat down beside me.
“Why’d she have to run away? Why couldn’t she just stay in the shelter and we could eventually talk about all that was going on? Why did she have to leave and let him convert her. Why?”
“You know how Ahshay was Ty. Whether you talked it out or not she was still going to want to find him and there was nothing that you could do about that. There was nothing that you could do to her once her mind was made up.”
“I know. I just..I just wish that I at least had a little bit more time with her. We were supposed to see all of this through together. She was supposed to take it to the finish line. Not be turned by our own dad.”
“In his defense...”
“Do not defend him!” I yelled as I cut him off. “He’s the one at fault. He’s the one who made this all happen. He should have blown himself up before he did what he did to her.”
“I know man, I know. It sucks but we are going to get you through this.”
“I don’t know if I wanna get through this.” I heard some footsteps get closer to me and when I looked up I saw the rest of my team standing there over me with sympathetic looks on their faces. I wanted to yell that I didn’t need their sympathy but I did. I needed someone to help take all of this hurt away that I was feeling inside.
“We’re sorry about your sister,” said Dezzie.
“I’m sorry that I let her come out here,” said Rahz. “I know that I should known better. I knew that it’s a bad idea to come out at night anyway but she just looked so broken and I cared about her. I just wanted to make her happy. I’m sorry Tysim, and I understand it if you never forgive me.”
I looked at Rahz and as much as I wanted to blame him for all of this I knew that I couldn’t. Even if she didn’t smooth talk her way out of the shelter she would have found another way to do just what she wanted to do. But it was much easier to put the blame on him than it was just dealing with it myself. “I know that you cared about her. I know that you all cared about her. I don’t blame you Rahz. I know my sister. She would have found a way to do this even if you didn’t let her go. I just, I just wish that I had at least gotten the chance to make things right between us. Let her know that I was here for her. Or at least tried to get her to understand what was going on so she understood how dangerous it would have been to look for him but I didn’t and that falls on me.”
Tamoia stepped forward and by the look on her face I knew that she was about to say something that I didn’t want to hear. “I know that you’re grieving Tysim and I get that. But, we have to protect the rest of us now. You know that since your sister and your dad were both now under whipipo control that they now have more information on us and our wheraboute. We need to move them away from our shelter and try to pack up as much stuff as we can and head out. This shelter is blown. We won’t be able to stay here anymore.”
“You aren’t even going to give him a moment to grieve? His whole family is on the ground in front of him!” yelled Tyleah. “Ahshay was our friend. You may not have known her as well as the rest of us but this isn’t an easy loss.”
I was surprised that Tyleah spoke up the way that she did. She usually just went along with the flow and kept her mouth shut. Besides, her and Ahshay weren’t exactly the closest but I knew that no matter what we were all still a family.
“Yeah, can he at least have a moment in peace to mourn his sister. Have a damn heart,” said Breyrian.
“We don’t have a moment! We’ve already been still for too long around them. We need to move now,” she said with urgency in her voice.
“Just give him a damn moment Tamoia!” yelled Rahz and Dezzie at the same time.
I watched as she glared at the both of the before she nodded her head towards me. I understood where she was coming from, but there was no way that I was going to move on without a proper goodbye to my sister. I stood to my feet and walked slowly over to where my sister laid on the ground. As I knelt down beside her I placed her hand inside of mine. “You know Ahshay, ever since you were a baby, the only thing I wanted to do was protect you. You were so small and cute and you were my sister. There was nothing that I wouldn’t do for you. I’m so sorry that it all came down to this and this is how it ended. I’m so sorry that I had to hurt you. I love you Ahshay and I always will. Say hi to mom for me.” I kissed her on the hand as a single tear slid from my eye. I don’t know how I was going to get through this without her but I knew that she would want e to keep pushing on. I took one final glance at her before I looked over at Tamoia. “I know that we have to move and get rid of them but I want to bury my sister. There is no way that I’m going to just leave er body out in the open like this. She deserves to have a proper burial.”
She looked at me and I could tell that she was having a mental debate in her mind over what she should do. “Alright, we can bury her. But, not close to the shelter. You, Breyrian, and Rahz can go dig a spot and bury her while the rest of us gather up the stuff in the shelter.”
“Okay,” I said.
Breyrian and Rahz looked at me and smiled softly. I knew this was going to be just as hard on the both of them as it was for me because She was like a sister to Brey and Rahz and her had just taking a liking to one another. I gathered my sister up in my arms and headed towards the outskirts of the woods with Brey and Rahz following behind me. I didn’t want to go too deep into the woods, just in case we ran into some of the rabid animals but I knew it had to be far enough away from where we were so they didn’t catch our trail, if they already didn’t.
“I think that we should bury her in this meadow that we found earlier when we were looking for food. There was a little clearing that had some weird but beautiful flowers in it. It was like a little mini paradise. She enjoyed it and since she was such a beautiful person I think that’s where she should go,” said Breyrian.
I nodded my head. “Then show us the way.”
He stepped in front of me and Rahz and I followed behind him as he led us through the dark. I kept having the strange feeling that we were being watched by something or someone but I figured that I was just overreacting because my sister had just passed. Brey kept walking and soon we were to a clearing that in the dark glowed hues of purple. It was weird but calming at the same time.
“This is the place,” said Brey as he looked around the clearing.
“It is beautiful,” I said.
“Yeah, it really is,” said Rahz.
“Well, let’s go ahead and lay her to rest,” I said as I placed her down on the ground. Since we had no shovels or tools I knew that we were going to have to dig her a shallow grave with our hands but anything would do at this moment.
Breyrian, Rahz, and I began to dig into the ground and I still felt as if I could feel a set of eyes on me. I glanced around but still I saw nothing so I shrugged it off. We kept on digging until we felt the hole was deep enough to hold her inside of it and I walked over to pick her up and place her in the grave.
“Any final words you guys would like to say before we cover her up?”
“Ahshay, you were like a little sister to me and honestly I don’t know what I’m going to do without all your nagging or complaining. You were truly one of a kind and I’m going to miss you. I love you and you will always be like a little sister to me,” said Breyrian.
“Ahshay, I know that we haven’t known each other that long but but in the short time that I have known you, you were a beautiful light. I wish that I would have gotten to known you a better an been able to shine in your light just a little longer. Rest in Peace baby girl. I will miss you,” said Rahz.
I looked over at him and could see tears flowing from his eyes and placed my arm around his shoulder. “She’s going to be okay,” I said.
“I know, I’m just really going to miss her,” he said.
“Yeah, me to,” I said.
He nodded his head
and we all knelt down to slowly begin covering her up with dirt. When she was fully covered we all took one last look at her and began to turn around when all of a sudden we heard a little rumble. We looked back and saw that the ground had shined a little brighter where we had just buried Ahshay.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” said Rahz.
The ground shined even brighter and the dirt moved underneath.The dirt shifted a little more and then Ahshay rose from the ground with a bright light shining through her and all around her.
“Oh my God!” we all exclaimed at the same time.
Ahshay spun in circles and her eyes shined a bright gold color. The light slowly began to fade and she landed on the ground softly on her feet. Rahz, Breyrian, and I stared on in disbelief. Is she really alive? What had happened? She stepped closer to all three of us and looked us all in the eyes. There were now god flecks in them and they seemed a lot warmer than they once were. She stopped in front of me and slow smile spread across her face.
“Did you miss me big brother?” she asked.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked but before she got to answer I heard a loud thump beside me and saw that Rahz had passed out.
Chapter 14
“Rahz! Rahz!Wake up,” I yelled as I kneeled down beside him and tried to shake him awake. After a while I saw his eyes begin o flutter open and I breathed out a breath that I was holding. “Alright an, thought that we lost you for a second there.”
“Sorry man, thought that I saw your sister come back...” his voice trailed off as he looked over my shoulder and saw Ahshay standing there. “She, she, she really did come back. But, but, how?” he asked as he scooted away.
“I can answer that,” said a voice from out of the woods.
Everyone looked behind us and a small, old, melanin woman came out of the bushes. She was dressed in a dress that was covered in African print and long golden dreads flowed down her back and they had a slight glow to them. She had a calm aura about her and it made it feel as if we could trust her.
“Who are you?” I asked as she got closer to us.
“I am Mother Earth,” she said as she looked each of us in our eyes. “And you and your sister are the chosen ones.”
“Um, what?” I asked her.
“And Mother Earth? You really expect us to believe that that’s your name?” asked Breyrian skepticism dripping all through his voice.
“Who did you believe Mother Earth was? One of those whipipo? No, I am a strong and powerful Melanin woman who has seen a lot and knows alot. And you Tysim and Ahshay are the chosen ones. You two will bring an end to this plague that has taken over the Earth,” she said as she looked between me and Ahshay.
“So, what does that actually mean?” I asked her still very confused.
“Since the beginning of time I have been here. Always doing what’s in best interest of the world. And since the beginning of time, your destiny has been etched in the stars. We always knew that this end of the world would come but a new world would rise with the two chosen ones. You and your sister were born of an alpha male.The last alpha male in the world. And everyone knows that the quickest way to destroy a race is to remove the alpha males. Without them, the entire race suffers. Well, with you two, you will fix that. Tysim, you will grow into becoming an alpha male and your sister an alpha woman. You two are naturally born leaders and now that you have unlocked your gifts, many more will follow,” she said.
“Okay, so my dad was the last alpha male?” I asked.
“That is correct,” she said.
“So what does any of this have to do with my sister coming back to life or this glowing dirt that surrounds us?” I asked. Some of this stuff that she was saying still was not making much sense to me.
“This is the grounds of your ancient ancestors. The most powerful of your ancestors are buried here. The strength of them was given to your sister because her destiny has not been fulfilled yet. She came back to get her chance to fulfill it and bring forth the new order. Your full potential will be unlocked as well, but in order to do so you need to hug your sister,” she said.
“So what happens when her destiny fulfilled? Will she die again?” asked Rahz.
“Yes,” she replied. “Once her destiny is fulfilled she will once again return to the Earth.”
“Wow,” I said as I looked over at Ahshay who didn’t seem bothered by this news at all. “Are you okay with all of this?” I asked her as I looked over at her.
“Yes, I’m fine with is,” said Ahshay. “I knew that I had to have been brought back for a reason and if the reason is to end everybody’s suffering then I’m fine with that. There’s nothing more I would want to do than to fulfil my destiny. And you should want that to. We can’t let the world down. We have to do what’s in the best interest of everyone.”
I nodded my head and looked back at Mother Earth. “So what will happen once we hug?”
“Once you hug, the power of the ancients that are inside of her will also be inside of you. It will enhance the abilities that you have now as well as give you more. The powers will make you sharper, whittier, smarter, and stronger. But it is up to you to use them wisely so that you do not fail the task at hand. Do you both understand me?” she asked.
We both nodded our heads.
“Okay, now hug,” she said.
I walked over towards Ahshay with a smile on my face and hugged her tightly. Shortly after a glow overtook both of our bodies and I could feel myself being lifted slightly off of the ground. The light and power engulfed me and I felt a slight tingling sensation before being planted softly back on my feet.
“It is done,” said Mother Earth before she disappeared into thin air.
“Okay, what the hell was that all about?” asked Rahz as he looked at the both of us in disbelief.
“I guess we are the chosen ones like the lay said,” I said as I looked at my hands and arms to see if I looked any different.
“I still can’t believe that there is a Mother Earth. I just always thought that was made up lady that our parents used to talk about,” said Breyrian. “And look the ground has stopped glowing.”
I looked back at the ground and the beautiful glow was gone. “I think its because the power of the ancestors are now in me and Ahshay.”
“So, do you feel any different?” asked Breyrian.
“I do actually feel kind of stronger. Like I can take on anything,” I said, “And is it just me or does my voice sound a little deeper.
“Nah, your voice does sound as if it did get a little deeper,” said Breyrian.
“I thought so,” I said. “Well, I think that we should head back to the shelter now. It’s gonna be hard to explain this and I know Tamoia is probably pulling her hair out trying to figure out why we aren’t back yet.”
“I’m surprised that she hasn’t come and looked for us yet,” said Rahz.
“You and me both,” I said as we headed back towards the woods. As I walked I could feel that my body gave off a more dominant presence. Like it was commanding attention.
“You know, I hate to say this but I don’t think that you two being the chosen ones is going to go over well with Tamoia. You know that she prides herself on being the leader and in charge and I don’t think that she’s going to take this new development lying down,” said Rahz.
“I hate to say this to but he might be right,” said Ahshay. “She always has this air about her that she has to be in control and she’s not going to be able to control this so I think that she’s going to resent it.”
“Yeah, she might try to kill Ahshay for a second time,” said Breyrian. “Or think that the whipipo still have control over her. I just think that this isn’t going to go over well with her at all.”
“So how do you think we should explain it to her?” I asked. “I don’t want to go against her but if this is true, and this is our destiny then she’s going to have to listen.”
“I would have said
that we could have taken her to the place with the glowing dirt, but it’s not glowing anymore because the power is in the two of you,” said Breyian.
“It’s not just her that you have to convince though. We have to convince the whole team about what happened out there in the woods. And if I wasn’t there to see it myself, I sure wouldn’t believe the two of you,” said Rahz. “I would think that you were trying to pull a fast one because who comes back from the dead?”
“That’s true, but we live in a time now where a lot of weird stuff is going on so I would be more inclined to believe it. After all, we just watch my dad kill himself with a self-destruct button. You really think that it’s impossible for this of all things to happen?” I asked. “I’m not saying that it’s not weird but if this is the hand that we’re dealt then we need to deal with it.”
“Okay, so like I said, how do we plan on convincing them because we’re getting closer to the shelter and we still don’t have a game plan,” said Rahz. “I know my team and this isn’t going to be something that they easily go for.”
“They will believe,” said Ahshay. “I have a feeling that it won’t be as hard as you think it will be. They will come around. All of the melanins will come around.”
“I’m glad that you have that faith,” said Rahz. “But, in all honesty, I am glad that you’re back. Even though you were gone just briefly, I really missed you and I’m glad that I get to spend more time with you.”
“I’m glad that I get to spend a little bit more time with you to,” she said.
I was glad that I got a little bit more time with her as well but I knew that it would all be cut short whenever the destiny was fulfilled. I didn’t know f I would be able to say good-bye to her for a second time but for right now I would just enjoy the time that I had with her right now. “Well the shelter is just through there. Are you guys ready to face this?”
Melanin Wars Page 11