The Amulet

Chapter 4

The sun peered through the slits in the blinds, my eyes slowly opened. I sniffed the air and I could smell my auntie cooking downstairs in the kitchen. I quickly took another shower, put my hair up in high ponytail, and put on one of my vest tops and blue shorts. 

I walked down towards the smell, using my nose as my guide to see my auntie dancing around the kitchen like my mum does whenever shes cooking. 

"Morning dear, breakfast?"

"Yes please" my eyes widened at what my auntie was cooking. She was just making some cornmeal porridge but usually porridge is plain, but I smelt cinnamon, and brown sugar in the porridge.

I savoured every last bit in my mouth, moaning after every spoonful, my auntie just looked at me and smiled proudly. 

"That was the best porridge I have ever had!" I said to my Auntie 

She nodded and smiled.

We walked outside in her garden, I'm able to take everything in today, birds tweeting in the trees, I also hear slightly different noises but I can't quite make out what they are. My aunties garden was big, surrounded by big trees giving at least half of some sort of shade from the sun. We take our chairs down to the bottom of the garden where the trees shielded us from the sun. We chatted again for hours before my stomach growled for lunchtime, my auntie giggled and stood up and walked back to the house and brought out a couple of simple sandwiches and more ice tea.

"So dear, what brings you out here on your own?" 

"Well.. I couldn't find any colleges that I wanted to go to, plus I wanted to see if I could visit family that I've not been told about all these years, why wouldn't dad tell me about you guys?" 

"Well dear, as I told you that amulet has been in our family, it's put us in a lot of danger, which is why your dad and mum fled. They didn't want to hide like us, they wanted to be free. As soon as your dad met your mother he knew that this wouldn't be the life she would want to live, so that's why myself and your uncle live out here in the middle of nowhere, now if you do want to find this amulet dear, you have to be careful of who you trust, who will guide you through the jungle, who will guide you up the mountains and inside the caves."

"I know Auntie, do you know anyone that can help me? Or know where I could look?"

"The only person I trust are my 2 brothers, and one is your dad, so you'd have to go and see your Uncle Felix, I think he does still live at the address your dad wrote down, but I can phone and get him prepared for your arrival, he doesn't get many visitors you see"

"Oh okay thanks! How old is he if I may ask? Just so I can look out for him as well as him looking out for me?"

"Oh dear, he's only 41 so still bright as a button!"

"Oh really? Dad's only a few years older than him? Does that make you the little sister?"

"Oh yes dear it does, our parents always wanted a boy and a girl, but when they was blessed with your uncle Felix, they hoped to have a girl and there prayers came true and here I am" she said with a smile.

"Thank you Auntie! So much for your help, may I help you in the kitchen to cook dinner?"

"No no no dear, you'll need all your strength for your hike!"

My Auntie got up and headed towards the house, I saw her get out an old phone, perhaps talking for Uncle Felix about me coming over soon for my hike and camping trip. Soon the smell of the spices she was using was enticing, hitting my nose and my instincts was to get up and follow the smell as I would do whenever my mum was cooking dinner. I watch my Auntie season the food, mixing everything together with a beautiful a ray of colours on the plate, leafy greens, bright plump reds, some rice and fish. It tasted delicious, the fish was cooked to perfection, melting instantly in my mouth, the rice seasoned perfectly and the vegetables just scrummy! Definitely making sure I have enough energy to suffice my trip, I don't think I eat this much before! My stomach was bloated from all the food, but then she brought out some ready made cakes, ones that my mum makes, after my second cake I couldn't take no more.

Auntie told me more stories about growing up here in Guyana, and she told me some things to know about my Uncle Felix, that you have to follow his rules or he will leave you on your own and I wouldn't want that. She told me to also let Uncle Felix take the lead in setting up camps as she wouldn't want her niece getting hurt and she also said my dad wouldn't forgive her if she let anything happen to me. Which I could see but come on I'm 19 years old, I've camped plenty of times with my parents, I have my own mind but I don't mind taking orders from others, it'll be a good bonding experience with my Uncle, and who knows what will actually happen from it.

We said our goodnights, and I headed to my room, had a quick shower to wash off the stickiness of today, put on an oversized shirt and layed in the sheets, I'm trying to picture a bit of a younger version of my dad, and if he's anything like him or is he the opposite? My Auntie has been perfect with me, I must give her my number so we can still talk when I get home, my mind wandering to the words of my Auntie about that mysterious amulet, mind control really? I wouldn't ask for that not at all! I feel excited and nervous meeting my Uncle for the first time, and going out alone, well not quite my uncle will be there but by myself. I roll over on my side and close my eyes until the darkness consumes me.