Winter Solstice 2
1589 Words
Gauis puts the piece of flower in her hair,then he kisses her slight and soft
“I am the happiest man alive now and we are not even married yet”
this cause a giggle to leave Sanis mouth
“we will do it on the day of the festival”
“The winter solstice,but I am not allowed to attend,”
“we are of age now,so we can”
Gauis kisses her forehead needing to leave before he is being sort for.
feeling reassured Sani smiles and continues her dishes humming at the foresight of being free soon.
Sani finished up washing so she can resume her daily chores for the villagers ,fetching water and cleaning ,mending and sometimes even fixing was expected of her,and extra errand any official family needed her to run
It was evening by the time Sani was rounding up,she felt exhausted and she was not even done yet,
Sani
she hears someone call for her but when she turns around she sees nobody,weird at first for she was not one who was scared of the darkness ,it was her company whenever she wanted to escape from the horrible things she had to go through,
Mara had met her earlier when she was just about leaving and told her to go to the river to fetch more water for the chiefs house perplexed that she did that this morning ensuring all barrels were full she wondered what they could have done with all of it in such short time
after her containers are filled she loads them into a mini cart …Sani she hears her name again ,looking around her surrounding with no one still there,she wonders if one of the boys are trying to prank her again
hearing it voice again,this time she turns to the river and begins walking back towards it,there's a pull on her legs as her feet enters the water ,she keeps walking deeper into its depth when someone grabs her waist,
“what are you doing”
turning to face the persons whose hold snapped her back to reality,she looks to her feet and to see she is in the middle of the river
“i…I don’t know”
“are you not done for the day,why are you here” gaius asks
“your family seems to want to swim,since the water I fetched during the day wasn’t enough”Sani shifts from his hold and walks back
“Sani..”
“leave me alone gaius”
“did you want to kill yourself just now”gauis right behind her
“What…I did not…”
“I thought you said you did not want to die and now you want to drown yourself”
“you are getting ahead of yourself ,I just happened to be looking for something SIR”sani answers feeling irritated at his insinuation
“what”he asks but Sani stutters
“my ..my necklace”
“do you know how many times I yelled your name but you did not answer instead you went further about to dive in,…..I proposed this morning,so why”gaius claps his hands down his face
Sani stared at gaius as she tries to answer his question but she was confused as well,he just said he has been calling for her but she didn't hear him and the voice she heard that kept calling out to her seemed to have dragged her into the river though she didn’t realize how she got there
“I want this to end,this morning was beautiful but then I resumed my daily life optimistic just to realize I haven’t gotten anywhere,I felt more drained from everyone today and I don’t know what I was expecting but the hope of marrying you just made it all so heavy and I am tired Gauis…I am..”her voice breaks at the end
Sani moves to the cart but Gauis grabs her hands and start walking back to the village
“what are you doing I need those containers with me,I can't retire for the day without completing my errand”
“will you just trust me”gaius tone harsh andclipped
Sani follows him silently as they head back to the village,it’s a bit quite now as everyone should be inside there houses,how long was she at the river,they reach his fathers gate when she realizes what he's planning on doing
“Gauis where are you taking me”
“to see my father”.
festival day
Sani looked at the lights and the ribbons of different colors tied together above her,going on and on,the drums and wood pipes played,people at the gates as they trooped in,the night sky as different colors danced around,The winter solstice was beautiful but being here put her in awe,she always helped with the decorations but have never been allowed in but for today,Today she marries the love of her life,she was a little nervous
Sani reaches for her necklace and as she tries to catch her breath ,she didn’t even realize she was holding.
People continue to pass by paying her no attention
“Sani”
she smiles immediately to cover her worries as she turns to gaius who looks stunning in his dress,
“you look beautiful”he tells her,funny she was just about to say the same thing
“your mother lent me the dress yesterday,”
“are you ready”
Sani looks ahead of them and takes a deep breath
“yes”
hand in hand they enter the main field and made their way to the were his family stood, a long pole with wood sticks at its feet where an arranged the priest was carrying on rituals for the festivals ,when madam Carla told her she need to change,
Sani thought she was going to change to her wedding attire but unknown to her she was going to receive the shock of her life
she was dressed and blindfolded,Madam Carla told her it was tradition for the bride to lead to her groom,
Sani could feel she was getting closer to heat as the hairs on her body began to stand,was she not being lead to Gaius,would it be inappropriate to remove this blindfold she though,the hands leading her left her body and suddenly she felt exposed,suddenly two strong hands grabbed her and tied her to what felt like a pole,she struggled but could not get away
she screamed wondering what she was doing on the ritual altar,why were they tieing her,isn’t she getting married,
“Gaius,Gaius,help me,I am the bride”she could her but she could not make out what was being said,suddenly a chanting starts as she feels thick liquid pour on her body,the smell is gory and disgusting,she struggles more but her hands are bound she got weaker and weaker.
The chanting suddenly stops
Receive this sacrifice we offer to you
she hears the priest say
Sani
that voice says again as heat envelopes her
Sanis scream echoes throughout the village,the blindfold falls off as a white glow exudes out of her,putting out the flames and everyone,it's silent and dark,she did not know what was going on but this people wanted to kill her,with nothing left to cover her body,she drags herself up and runs for her life.
Sani had not made it far when running footsteps approached her,she was burnt ,bruised and scared,she hid behind a rock
“We need to find her ,Father will not be happy if we don’t”a voice says
“this is all your fault,it was going according to plan”another said
she whimpers and covers her mouth as tears streamed down her eyes ,that was s voice,how could he,anyone but him,what about all he promised her
she tried to stay still but something crawled on her skin making her squeak,they got her,they will find her and drag her back there,she took off but they grabbed her before she could get far,pushing her to the ground
She trashed on the leaves turning to face her captors,
“How could you Gauis,we were supposed to be married today”
“And why would i want to marry you”
“You love me”she cries
“Nobody could ever love you Sani,your existence is a taboo,we are doing you good by ending it for you”gaius bends to he
“Rags are never worn”he bites out
“Was it all a lie”she asks with shaky lips
“Oh witch,do you need that answer”Killen taunts
Something hovers in far sight
“help me”she screams
It all happened so fast,one minute it was there the next,nothing is moving as if time stops
The creature,dark with shadow glooming around,did she just end up in more trouble.
“Help me please”Sani beg,she didn't know what was going to happen to her,but she was not dying today
“WHAT do I get in return”the creature ask in a bored tone
“anything..I…i don't want to die”Sani cries out
“Whatever you want take it,but if you leave me here they will drag me back for sacrifice”Sani begs on her knees
looking back as they get closer
“stretch out your hand ”,it said and she did
pain rippled through her body as they both came in contact and she lost consciousness
“your soul is now mine..” the creature says
- Writer
