The Prince and The Prophecy

CHAPTER TEN

I woke up feeling happy and energized. I just had the best night of my life! I’ve never had a sleep as good as last night. Although it was a dreamless one, I feel like someone was hugging me, making me feel secured and comfortable.

It is still early in the morning but I decided to cook breakfast now.  I was humming while working my way on the kitchen. I feel like nothing or no one can ever break my good mood for the whole day.

After I was done with the cooking, I cleaned the kitchen before I grabbed some bread with jam. I went skipping outside with my clothes. I will take a dip first before I start with my other chores.

I was walking happily while eating but there was this unnerving feeling that someone is watching me. I just shrugged it off thinking that no one would want to waste their time on me. And I was right, after some time, the feeling went away on its own.

When I reached the river, I quickly took a dip but the water is too cold. I can feel my skin shrinking from the low water temperature. Because of that, I didn’t take a long time bathing. I went out of the water and the skeptical feeling went back again. I quickly put on my clothes because of that.

A sound of a branch breaking from a distance made my head shot at that direction. My heart started beating a little faster.

Who could that be? I quietly asked myself while I can’t peel my eyes off from that direction. I don’t have much time to think about it and maybe the sound is only made by an animal passing by. I just walked to the hog farm only to be shocked with the scene inside.

Usually this place is so filthy in the morning. A whole bunch of pigs’ litter are scattered all over making the whole place stink. But now even the pigs are clean, just like someone just washed them. My forehead creased in utter confusion.

And to add more to it, I remembered what happened the other day at the crop fields. Somebody is definitely helping me. The water vessels can’t get water and walk on their own as well as the pigs won’t clean up after themselves.

I looked around to look for any clue on who are doing this but I can’t find anything. Giving out a sigh of defeat, I just finished what my guardian angel started. He or she only cleaned but the pigs still look hungry based on the noises they make so I went to the storage room to get their food and distribute it to each cage.

My mood even went better after finishing my task earlier than usual. I wish that whoever it is that’s helping me will show up so that I can thank him properly.

Who could that be?

I can’t think of anyone because I am mostly isolated. The only people that I ever get to see are my Aunt and her family. I have been locked up inside this farm for my whole life after my parents died. They didn’t even let me go back to school.

It’s a good thing that there were some books in the house and I try to read as much as I can with the little free time that is left with me every day. I get my knowledge from them but I know that it is not enough.

They usually go out to go to other places but they always leave me here to take care of the crops and animals. We don’t have another helper so I literally know anybody else.

That makes me go back to the question of who is helping me?

Who would want to waste his or her time on me?

I finally gave up after thinking a lot. My head is now hurting but I still can’t think of anyone.

Or maybe it is my guardian angel.

When I got saved from the accident that took my parents’ life, everybody thought that my guardian angel save me that’s why I survived but after suffering for years under my relatives’ hands, I refused to believe that it’s true.

Maybe he went back to save me? But he is already years too late. He can’t save me anymore.

I sighed and tried to push away all those thought away from my mind.

Today is my happy day!

Having more time than usual, I decided to just go back to the river and rest for a while. They don’t go here so I’m sure that I can have it alone for myself. I laid on the grass under a big tree.

Trying to pass some time, I watched different birds and bugs flying by. I never knew that it is boring to be this idle. Had I known that I will have some spare time, I would’ve brought a book with me. But I can’t go back to the house now to get one because once they see me, they will just give me another set of never ending orders.

Sometimes I think that maybe they thought I am a robot with all the things that they were making me do. But even robots need to rest or else they will be broken.

I didn’t realize that I have dozed off already. I just knew when I was awaken by the sound of a monkey nearby. I stood up and stretched a little before finally going back to the house. I still needed to clean and cook lunch.

I gave out a sigh when I went inside the empty house.

“Seems like today is really a lucky day.” I muttered to myself.

Having the house to myself is already happiness for me. I looked at the messy living room. I will clean that up later. I will cook first since my stomach is now growling with hunger.

I walked to the kitchen and looked for something to eat while preparing our lunch. I was busy chopping some vegetables when someone suddenly grabbed my waist.

“Aah!” I screamed and jumped away!

“Haha why are you so jumpy my niece?” it was Uncle.

He has this sinister smile on his face when I looked at him.

“Wh-What is it Uncle?” I asked him, my hands still gripping the kitchen knife that I was using for chopping. I will really defend myself if he's up to no good.

“Nothing, I was just checking what you’re making for lunch.” He said before giving me a sly grin then he turned away from the kitchen.

I took a deep breath when he was finally gone. My heart is still beating in a fast pace and my hands are shaking a little. I don’t know if I am just getting paranoid or what but I really feel something odd with how he acts lately.  Nonetheless, I should just be more careful around him.

I kept on cooking as soon as my hands stopped trembling. I tried to work faster than usual. All I wanted to do right now is to get away from this house.

“Are you done with our lunch?” I heard my Aunt’s voice coming from the living room.

And I swear I’ve never been relieved by her voice before. Just now.

“Yes, I will just set the table.” I meekly answered.

“Good, I’m famished.”

“Where are your Uncle and Yanessa?” she asked.

“Uhm, Uncle went here a while ago but I haven’t seen Yanessa since morning.” I wanted to tell her about Uncle’s weird actions but she won’t believe me for sure.

“Go call your Uncle and tell him that lunch is ready.” She ordered.

I bit my lip to stop myself from protesting. I just sighed before doing what she asked. I went to the living room to look for him.

“Uncle?” I called. I don’t want to go upstairs to their bedroom. But thinking that Aunt is just downstairs, maybe nothing could go wrong.

I went up the stairs and knocked on their door.

“Uncle, Aunt is calling you for lunch.” I shouted without opening the door. I don’t want to see him as much as possible.

There was no response so I called him again. I held the knob and turned it open. I poked my head in to see what’s inside. I was relieved when I found the room empty. I closed the door again and went to my old bedroom and knocked.

“Yanessa!” I called her, thinking that maybe she’s inside.

“Yanessa!” then I knocked on the door before opening it.

“What?” she asked, her voice dazed with sleep. I can’t help but feel envious of her.

While I am working my ass out the whole day, here she is spending the day on her bed.

“Your mom is calling you. Lunch is ready.”

“Tell her I want to sleep some more!” she said before covering her head with a pillow.

I sighed before closing the door again but before I can go back to the stairs, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me.

“Uncle! What are you doing?” I panicked and I pulled back my hand but he won’t let it go.

He’s trying to pull me into the empty bedroom!

“Uncle! Aunt is calling you for lunch!” I almost shouted, hoping to get any of my Aunt or cousin’s attention.

He suddenly let go of my hand when he heard what I said.

“Sh-She’s in the dining room.” I stepped back from him, but I kept looking at his every move.

“Guess you’re lucky today.” He sneered before going down the stairs.

I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my ribcage any moment now. Tears went gushing from my eyes when it finally sinks in on me. I stepped back until my back hit the wall. I held my hands together to stop them from shaking.

“What am I going to do now?” fear is creeping through my whole body, immobilizing me.

I let my body slide down on the floor then I dropped my head on my knees. I feel so scared. How can I run away from him?

“Hey what are you doing there? Are you slacking again?”

I looked up and found my cousin, still in her pajamas and bed hair.

“N-no, I just…” I don’t know what to say.

“If you have nothing else to do, then you better clean up my room!” she ordered and I just nodded.

When she went down the stairs, I run up to her room then locked the door. I tried to calm myself down. I needed to stay focus and all I have to do is to get out of his way. With that in mind, I just did the task at hand.

I looked around her room that used to be mine. I bit my lip to suppress my tears.

“Mom, Dad… please help me…” I whispered on the wind. Hoping that it will carry it for them to hear.

I opened the curtains and her windows to let the fresh air in. Her room is so messy and it even has a faint pungent smell. I changed her bed covers and blanket first. Then I took the broom to sweep the floor and pick up the trashes that were littered around.

How can she sleep here like this?

When I got finished, the bedroom looked like a different place than earlier. The air smells fresh now too. Getting content with what I have done, I went to the door to take a peek first. I wouldn’t want to be dragged again.

After seeing that there’s no one there, I rushed my way down. I looked around, making sure that Uncle is nowhere in sight before heading to the kitchen. I ate my lunch in a rush before washing all the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

Now, there’s only the living room left to clean then I can go out. I moved with haste while constantly looking over my shoulders.

I grabbed a couple of books from the shelf in the living room before running out of the house like someone is chasing me.  I made sure to be wary of my surrounding. I can’t risk it. It will be more dangerous if Uncle will suddenly show up here.

I ran up to the river and went to my secret hideout. There’s a little cave here hidden behind vines and wild plants. I went there and that’s the only time that I felt at ease.

Tears brimmed my eyes as I think about my current situation. I may be innocent but I’m not that naïve. I know why Uncle is acting like that towards me. And that thought is enough to fill my heart with fear.

“Whoever you are, please save me.”  I cried, thinking of the person who is helping me…