THE RED MASK

The Red Mask -Chapter 3-

ANIG talked to their fellow tribesmen, especially the elders.

"Why do you want them to be alive, Anig?" asked the oldest of the tribe.

"Apo, Ampin. This is what my heart and mind say!"

"Why then?"

"My heart says I love her." He looked at the dead woman.

They know Anig; he never says anything to them. And he is their savior. The adults looked at each other and nodded. It means they agree with Anig's wishes. That is why they have prepared what they must do to perform their ritual.

Anig's father first removed the bullet from Amina's shoulder, then covered it with medicinal leaves. Then he massaged baby Shola and dropped a medicinal leaf in its mouth. "Anig, are you ready?"

"Yes, Father."

In the middle, the lifeless babies Shola and Amina are surrounded by tribal people.

Anig was holding baby Shola's head while her father was holding Amina's head.

"Let's start while their shadow is still on the ground," said an old man.

All the people surrendering were holding hands. Anig and his father were holding baby Shola and Amina's heads.

When they started to perform rituals. The father and son put their heads on the heads of Amina and baby Shola and spoke a language that only the tribe could understand.

Ten minutes passed, baby Shola started crying, and Amina took a deep breath as if she were catching her breath.

"Father, we are victorious." Anig said enthusiastically.

His father smiled at him.

"B-baby Shola?" Amina spoke first when she opened her eyes. And then she looked at the people around her. Her eyes asked where they were and who they were.

"You are safe," said the oldest of the tribe.

Amina got up and knelt on the ground. "Thank you so much, all of you. I know the words "thank you" aren't enough. But I make sure I will return it in kind." She took baby Shola and hugged her.

Amina did ask why she and baby Shola were alive, and she was thankful because they were.

Twenty-four years have passed.

"Shola, come home!"

Shola heard her mother scream. At that moment, she was in the rambutan tree with his brother.

"Mother, we're coming," she replied, then looked at her brother, "Abet." "Mother called us; let's go."

"You're the only one Mother calls sister; you may go." He throws the rambutan seed that comes from his mouth to his sister.

Shola was taken aback by what her brother did, and she widened her eyes toward him. "I'm going to hit you. Come on, you're being lazy again, eh."

Abet was a bit scared of his sister. "Fine, let's go," he said.

They all jumped together and ran towards their house.

Amina and Anig got married in the tribe. And God blessed them with two children, Abet and Ange. They considered Shola to be their real daughter.

"Mother, why?" shouted Shola.

"Where do the two of you go?"

"Mother, we are just in a rambutan tree." Shola replied.

"Okay, go to the sweet potato field and help your father and Ange there."

"Yes, Mother, let's go, Abet." She hold her brother hand so that he came with her.

Amina smiled as she watched Shola; it can be seen from her appearance that she is really a Monticello, with a core of beauty inherited from her mother, Clara.

Amina's lone regret is that Shola won't be able to fulfill her parents' wish for her to become a successful businessperson. Every time they give baby Shola a bath, Clara always lets her know what she wants for her daughter. Due to the tragic tragedy in their lives, she was unable to give her daughter what she wanted. She did, however, manage to teach Shola how to read and write. She want Shola to leave this tribe to find her yourself, but she was afraid that they might find her and discover that she's a member of Monticello, so she just let fate give her a path. If the bad tragedy hadn't occurred in her life, She know Shola would have finished her study in a famous university, So she just let the fate what will happen to Shola. If she can return to the inside world that suited her. Amina turned back, her tears falling as she remembered what had happened before.

"Sister, Shola. I'm tired; it's heavy." Abet complained while carrying a half-sack of potatoes.

"You're a big man; be patient; look at Ange; she's better than you."

"Because sister she's strong and her body is bigger than mine, if I can only get that, I am sure that I will be the strongest in our tribe."

"Huh? Which one will you get, Abet?" Shola frowned.

"Sister, I'll tell you, but it's just for us, okay," he whispered to her.

"Yes, what is that?" Shola replied in a whisper.

"I heard something from, Apo Lakay."

"What is it?"

"They say that if someone gets the mask that is hidden in a cave, he will definitely have the ability and possess a unique strength."

"Huh? You believed it, Abet?"

"Sister, Apo Lakay already said what it is; they know what's going on in this tribe."

"Okay, let's say that it's true. What kind of ability is inside that mask, huh?"

"You can see the past what happened like when you were young or born, I'll get that mask, sister." he said confidently.

"What? Hey! Abet, stop it. What are you talking about? But wait don't tell me you are going to that cave."

"Yes, sister. If you don't believe me, then don't but me; I believe to, Apo lakay said."

"So, what are you going to do, Abet?"

"Of course I'll take that mask, Sister."

"If what you're saying is true, Abet, that's dangerous; what if someone catches you? Father definitely punished you."

"I know sister, I heard that Apo Lakay said that no one has gotten it yet; everyone who tries to get it always fails. Sister, I make sure no one knows when I enter that cave. Only you will know."

"Abet, you might be harmed by it; look at your body, you're so tiny like a small kid."

"Sister, I'm already fifteen years old."

"Yeah, yeah. So you're a man?"

"Yes, sister, and that's why I'm going to take it, sister, so I can be strong like father," he was so determined to get what he was referring to.

"I don't know about you, but if Father finds out about your plan, I'm sure he won't agree."

"Are you going to tell him, sister?"

Shola looked at Abet with a pleading look not to tell their father.

"What if you get hurt, huh?"

"No, sister, you're there, aren't you? You'll come with me."

"What? You are going to shield me from your stupidity, Abet. I don't want to!" she obtain.

"Alright sister, tonight at full moon we will go to the cave that Apo Lakay mentioned."

"You're stubborn, Abet!"

"You know me sister. And I know you can't stand me, right?" he winked at his sister.

Shola sighed deeply; she couldn't stop him. And another thing is, whatever he really wants, he will get it; no one can stop him, not even their father. Who else will inherit it but their brave father?