“I’m ready,” said Ahshay.
“I’m ready,” said Breyrian and Rahz in unison.
“Alright, well let’s get this show on the road,” I said as we stepped out of the woods and started towards the shelter.
Tyleah, Clayahr, and Dezzie noticed us at first and smiles spread across their faces but when they caught a glimpse of Ahshay I quickly saw the confusion that crossed over their eyes. Tamoia and Dizzie came into view and I could already see the resistance in Tamoia’s face. She didn’t know what was going on and I could only hope that Ahshay was right with her understanding everything because right now it looked like it was going to take a lot of convincing. When we got closer to the shelter the rest of the team met us but no one spoke a word at first. We all just sat there staring at each other waiting for the other to say what was on their mind.
“How exactly is Ahshay alive?” asked Tamoia breaking the silence that had developed over our group.
“When my brother, Breyrian, and Rahz buried me they buried me in some ancient ground and I was revived. Some lady named Mother Earth came out of the woods and told us that my brother and I were the chosen ones and would lead this world into a new beginning,” said Ahshay.
“Mother Earth?” asked Dezzie confused.
“I know that it sounds crazy but it actually is true. I mean had I not been there I probably wouldn’t have believed it but it’s true. Some lady with some golden dreads came out and said that Tysim and Ahshay were the ones who should lead us on this journey. That they will be the ones to get the job done,” said Rahz.
“So you expect us to believe that a mythical woman came out of the woods and said all this?” asked Tamoia. “Because, I can tell you right now that I’m not falling for it.”
“Then how do you explain how Ahshay is standing right there? Or even more so why would they even lie about something like this? The story doesn’t sound believable but we’ve seen some unbelievable stuff even with our own eyes,” said Dezzie as she looked over at Tamoia.
“So you’re telling me that you believe in what their saying?” asked Tamoia.
“What I’ saying is Ahshay is standing there right in front of our eyes, not dead, and with no bullet wound. How else would you explain it?” asked Dezzie.
“We know that it’s hard to believe but Mother Earth said it was our destiny to lead and we plan on fulfilling it. You don’t have to believe anything that we say but we hope that you do,” I said as I looked around the group.
“Yes, we know this is all weird but we’ve been living in weird times for years. Now is our time to make a change in the world. To put in the favor of the melanins. To not have to run and hide anymore. To take back our rightful place in the world,” said Ahshay.
“So what exactly does being the chosen one consist of?” asked Tamoia. “Because right now you’re saying that this is your destiny but you’re not saying exactly what that entails of.”
“Look Tamoia, they are just figuring this stuff out. We weren’t in the woods that long. The lady said that these two can lead us to greatness so let them do that. We already know them. We know they’re down for the team so what’s the point in fighting it?” asked Rahz. “I know that you like to lead and be in charge of everything but this is falling on them and after seeing what I saw in the woods I’ma trust them and the gold haired lady.”
“Why don’t we take a vote and see what everybody else thinks of all this,” said Tamoia frustrated.
I could tell that she was mad that she wasn’t getting her way so I decided to appease her. “Go ahead. Let’s take a vote then.”
“Okay then, all in favor of following Tysim and a newly reborn Ahshay because of something that happened in the woods please raise your hands,” said Tamoia.
I watched as Dezzie, Dizzie, Rahz, Breyrian, Tyleah, and Clayahr raise their hands.
“I guess that’s settled then,” I said.
“So you guys are really going to turn on e like that?” asked Tamoia. “We barely know them and you want them to lead us into a brighter day.”
“We know them well enough Tamoia. And once again we’re looking at Ahshay rejuvenated from the dead,” said Dezzie. “You may not want to believe that their the chosen ones but they both had a powerful dad, they both have their powers, and once again she is has risen from the dead. You wanted to vote and we all voted to trust them. Are you going back on what you wanted to do?”
“I didn’t vote yes,” said Tamoia.
“But the rest of us did,” said Dizzie as he looked over at us. “It’s weird but it just might work. I mean what do we have to lose?”
“Our lives,” said Tamoia.
“We already risk that everyday,” said Clayahr. “So there is no change. I think we should go for it.”
“They still are green! They don’t know what it takes to protect a group like us,” said Tamoia as she looked over at us with anger filled eyes.
I was about to open my mouth to say something when I heard footsteps coming from behind us. I thought that it would be Mother Earth again but my senses were telling me that it was someone far more sinister. I looked back and saw a group of whipipo walking towards us.
“Stay back,” I said to the other members of the team as Ashay and I stepped forward.
“Well look at what we have here,” said one of the whipipo. “A group of melanins.”
“Not just any group though. All of these melanin are on the most wanted list,” said another one.
“So I guess the question is are you going to come quietly or are we going to have to force you to go?” asked another whipipo.
“Well, I can tell you one thing, we’re not going to go quietly,” said Ahshay.
“And I can tell you that we aren’t going to go at all,” I said.
“Oh, every melanin that we want we get. We got your father didn't we?” asked one of the bigger whipipo as she stepped forward. “You didn’t think that we would recognize you two. We know exactly who you are. Your dad was one of strongest soldiers and even though he self destructed himself we still had all the information we needed to come right to where you are.”
“Just because you got our dad to bend to your ways doesn’t mean that you’ll get us though,” I said with a smirk on my face.
“Oh trust me, we will get you. All of you. Attack!” he yelled out loud.
The whipipo that he was with drew these electric swords out at us and I smiled. I looked over Ahshay and she wore the same expression on her face. I could feel the tingling through my body and then a surge of power bursted out of the both of us at the same time. The burst sent the whipipo flying back and they landed on their backs.
“Are you sure that you really want to do this?” I said as I raised my hand and a gold ball floated around in it.
“Because we can do a lot worse than that,” said Ahshay as two gold balls floated in her hands.
The looked etched across the whipipo faces as fear .They didn’t know how to react to the power that we had. Their fear only made us stronger and we both took another step towards them but they all scooted back.
“I don’t know who or what you two are but we will be back for you and we will be ready,” said one of the bigger whipipo as he looked at us and motioned for his men to follow him. They scattered one by one until they all were out of sight.
Ahshay and I looked at each other and powered down before we turned back to our team who all looked at us wide eyed and in disbelief.
“Well, if I did ever question you guys you ave my faith one hundred percent now,” said Dizzie breaking the silence.
“Yes, I still don’t get what’s going on but if you can do things like that then I’m ready to follow your lead,” said Clayahr.
I smiled and looked over at Tamoia who still looked as if she still wanted to fight what was going on.
“Well, I guess I have no choice but to trust you since my team trusts you. But, I still don’t think that you’re ready despite your little power show,” she sai
d as she rolled her eyes.
“Well that’s your opinion Tamoia and your entitled to it,” said Ahshay with a smirk.
“So now what do we do? Are we still going to move shelters or are we going to still camp here?” asked Dezzie.
“I still feel as if it’s in our best interest to move,” I said. “With any luck we can find another place just as secure as this.”
“I doubt it,” mumbled Tamoia.
I wanted to engage her but I decided to keep my mouth shut. There was no reason to keep arguing with her because she was going to be exactly who she was going to be. But hopefully she wouldn’t stay stubborn for too long because we really did need her on our side.
“Well let’s go then,” I said as I grabbed one of the bags off of the ground.
I looked around at my team and they all had blank looks on their faces. I turned around to see what they were gazing at and saw a large group of melanins walking out of the woods and towards us. There were about a good twenty or thirty of them and I was glad to see so many of them willing to come forward. One of the male melanins stepped forward and I walked towards him.
“We saw what you did with the whipipo. And we want to join your team. We want to make a change,” he said.
I looked around at each of them and smiled. “Welcome to the team.”
Also by Taquila Thompson
Lollipop Killer
Lollipop Killer
Melanin Wars
Melanin Wars
Standalone
Knocking Hard on Heaven's Door
Melanin Wars Page 12