Chapter 2: Invasion!

Saintilia POV

Today as I marked my thirteenth birthday, memories of my father, Jonas, flooded my thoughts. It was around this very time, two years ago, that he passed away, leaving a void in my heart that felt impossible to fill. Celebrating my birthday became a delicate balance between joy and sorrow. It was challenging to separate the happiness of the occasion from the lingering sadness of losing my father.

In this journey of grief and healing, I found comfort in honoring my father's memory. Embracing the values and principles he instilled in me became a guiding light, reminding me of his presence in my life, even though physically he was no longer with me.

At the tender age of eleven, I was confronted with an unexpected and heart-wrenching reality when Jonas, whom I never thought would leave me, departed from my life. His absence marked a turning point, forever altering the course of my existence. The anger that welled up inside me towards him lingered stubbornly, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

As the years passed, I gradually learned to cope with his absence and forge ahead without him. Yet, despite the passage of time, I could never erase the memory of his loving words, professing his deep affection for me. Those heartfelt declarations, along with the memories of the joy I brought to both him and Paulette, remained etched in my heart, serving as a bittersweet reminder of the profound connection we once shared.

I was barely a year old when my mother passed. I could not remember anything about her. The old photo of her that Jonas carried in his wallet, was barely visible for anyone to say definitively, that the woman in the picture was my mother. How could I believe it when I didn't know what she looked like. Jonas and never really discussed how my mother died. And that got me thinking, if I were such a joy as Jonas claimed, why did they both leave me to fend for myself.

As the chorus of crickets and birds filled the air, it served as a gentle but persistent reminder that I had stayed at the river for far too long. Lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, I had completely lost track of time. Navigating through the woods in the late afternoon wouldn't be impossible, but the dense canopy of trees tightly clustered together made it challenging. Once the sun sets beyond the horizon, the forest darkened considerably, even before nightfall, creating an illusion of an early morning hour.

Having spent my entire life in this village, I had become intimately familiar with its every nook and cranny, thanks to its founder, Jonas. These secret pathways and hidden shortcuts were etched into my memory, allowing me to navigate effortlessly, even with my eyes closed. I felt confident that I could always find my way home without any trouble.

The sounds of footsteps jolted me back to my surroundings. I was worried about Tina probably wondering if something had happened to me. She was not a nice person when she was angry and even worse when her stomach was in question. I sensed someone was closely following me but I could not see who it was. As I surveyed the area, I could see a shadowy movement that quickly moved between the trees. I felt eerie and my heart skipped but I was sure it was someone going about their business. After all, it was the main road to the river for anyone living in the village.

Pressing forward, I tightened my grip on the gourds, determined to keep moving despite the sound of approaching footsteps. Though I couldn't discern the direction from which the steps emanated, an intuitive feeling told me that they were drawing near. With my long legs granting me an advantage, I took purposeful, elongated strides, hastening my pace to validate my suspicion.

"Who's there?"

My curiosity urged me to inquire, hoping to determine whether the footsteps approaching me were from someone familiar or merely a figment of my imagination. An eerie stillness enveloped the surroundings, with even the birds seeming to stop their cheerful chirping at that very moment, or perhaps fear made me oblivious to their sounds.

In an attempt to convince myself that it was all a product of my overactive mind, I continued walking. How could anyone be following me? But then, unexpectedly, a voice shattered the silence, instructing me to stop. The sound seemed almost muffled, sending my heart into a frenzy.

I didn't recognize the man's voice. Suddenly, fear surged through my veins like never before. And every fiber of my being was engulfed in a paralyzing terror. The reality of the situation sank in, and I felt utterly defenseless, unable to comprehend the intentions of the unknown figure fast approaching me.

"Who are you? and why are you following me?"

His silence spoke volumes, and I couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that he deliberately avoided responding to my question. It crossed my mind that he might be afraid that I could identify him, which fueled my attempts to place him within my memory, but, at that moment, his identity remained elusive.

As panic gripped me, My instincts urged me to run, but my trembling legs betrayed me, suddenly giving way beneath my weight. Yet, in a stroke of luck, the gourds cushioned my fall, preventing me from hitting the ground. My heart pounded so forcefully that it felt as though it might break free from my chest. The fear and uncertainty were so overpowering that I struggled to maintain control over my emotions, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of the situation and find a way to ensure my safety..

I yearned for more fireflies to illuminate the darkness so that I could catch a glimpse of his face, but they remained scarce. A thought flickered in my mind, wondering if he could be the same man who had been discreetly observing me in the river moments before. The curiosity of unmasking the mysterious figure momentarily distracted me, causing a fleeting hesitation in my steps.

"Merde."

I Muttered under my breath when I stepped over a rock. The sudden loss of stability sent me tumbling to the ground, and I couldn't do anything to break the fall. The resounding crash of the gourds colliding with the ground and water splashing around intensified my irritation. It had taken me an entire day to painstakingly clean and prepare those gourds, and now, in an instant, they were rendered useless. The mishap felt like a cruel twist of fate after investing so much time and effort on them, leaving me frustrated.

"Screw you! Whoever you a......"

He was well aware where I was on the ground and managed to sneak up on me, leaving me unable to finish my sentence. What followed caught me completely off guard, and I realized I was in serious trouble. The slap was so forceful that my ear continued ringing. The intense pain in my jaw jolted me awake, forcing me to face a critical decision about my fate.

I attempted to rise while clutching my throbbing cheek, I refused to let him gain the advantage. But he swiftly seized me, forcefully driving me back to the ground. Shocked and bewildered, I struggled to comprehend the real danger I was in. Various thoughts flooded my mind, reflecting on my roots in this village where I was born. Throughout my young life, I had earned a reputation as the fierce little girl of Jonas. Everyone in the village knew not to mess with me, for I had been trained as a fighter by Jonas himself. He instilled in me the importance of defending myself and never making it easy for anyone who sought to cause me harm.

However, in this particular moment, an unsettling encounter unfolded before me. Leaving me With uncertainty clouding my mind. I realized that the outcome of this encounter might not be favorable for me. Nevertheless, I resolved to stay true to Jonas' teachings and defend myself with all the strength and determination I could muster. This situation seemed far from simple and could have dire consequences for me.

"What the hell are you doing? And who the heck are you?"

Feeling annoyed and not anticipating a response, I found myself trapped beneath him, completely under his control. As he lay on top of me, he forcefully tore open my dress. Confusion and fear overwhelmed me as I struggled to understand and confront the situation. Though I knew I was in trouble, my mind couldn't process it, leaving my body unable to fight back. I couldn't help but wonder, "What on earth was happening to me?"

As we struggled, I came to the stark realization that this man was determined to have his way, and he wouldn't let me escape easily. Attempting to free myself, I delivered a forceful knee to his groin, but he retaliated with a harsher blow that left my bottom lip bleeding. It seemed he was reacting to the pain I caused him, indicating how serious he was. Despite feeling hopeless, I couldn't help but fight back.

In the depths of distress, I called out to Jonas, my heart pounding with fear, even though deep down, I knew the plea was futile. The situation seemed like an intricate web of illusion and confusion, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blurred, leaving me disoriented. I couldn't shake the awareness that my father, whom I had hoped would be my savior, would never be able to come to my rescue. It was a moment of intense vulnerability so I had to find strength within myself to face this challenge.

"He can't save you. He's dead."

As the suspenseful tension reached its peak, he finally broke the silence with a bone-chilling, frightening tone that made me shiver. His voice remained veiled in mystery, leaving me apprehensive . As his words sank in, the gravity of the reality he revealed hit me like an overwhelming force.

In that harrowing moment, it dawned on me that I was isolated and vulnerable, with no one to shield me. The realization of my solitude amplified the fear that gripped my heart, but in that same moment, a surge of determination coursed through my veins summoning all the strength and courage within, I made a resolute decision: I would confront him head-on and fight till the very end. No longer willing to be a victim, I resolved to stand up for myself and take on the challenge with unwavering resolve, determined to face whatever lay ahead, even if it meant battling my fears in the darkest of circumstances.

Frantically, I scoured the earth beneath me, desperately seeking any assistance. Uncertain of the outcome that awaited me, yet, I was determined not to succumb without a fight; my will to survive refused to waver. As if guided by some unseen force, my trembling hand eventually came to rest upon the very stick that had once held my gourds.

I found myself in a perplexing situation where he displayed an uncanny ability to predict my every move, as if he had x-ray vision. As I attempted to strike at him, he effortlessly intercepted my arm, leaving me in awe of his extraordinary reflexes. Despite my strength, I realized that I was no match for his skill and agility. Feeling anxious, I shut my eyes, diverting all my mental energy towards formulating a strategy to break free from his grasp and escape the enthralling yet perilous encounter.