Redemption

Chapter 7

[6 Years Ago, Wakanda]

Isha and Zari clutched each other close in the back of the van. Moonlight slips in through the window, wheels bouncing with each rock on the road. If it could be called a road. The little dirt path no more than one car ride alerted the girls to their distance from the city limits. The trees and the sounds of the forest lulled the two asleep. 20 minutes into the Now 45 minute long journey, there were no more tears to spare.

Zari lay against Isha's side. One hand gently held her baby bump, the other wrapped around the bracelet her mother had given her. The cool beads nestled into her palm, while Isha sought safety on her empty shoulder. "Isha?" The mother's whisper floated through the air.

Zari's tone saddened her friend, having lost both parents the same way a few years ago, she knew there was no saving her friend from the truth. "Yes?" The orphaned teen replied. "What is going to happen to us?"

"I don't know Zari." She sighed, snuggling into her friend. "Will they separate us?" Zari asked. "I think it's safe to assume no. I know too much, whatever they do you, they'll probably take me to the same place," Isha started. She felt Zari tense as the van begin to slow down. "Even if they separate us at first." Isha paused, the crunch of gravel and slamming car doors, prompted the end of her spiel. "We'll always be together." Isha rushed as she was pulled out of the van.

"Isha!"Zari's screams filled the air as her best friend was wrestled from the back of the van. "Let me go!" Isha struggled, her heartbreaking as Zari was scooped out of the van. Her legs thrashed. Nails connecting with skin, and eyes. The guard carrying her cried out. Isha dashed for her friend. "ZARI!" Two guards quickly replace the first. Grabbing her mid-run, they dragged the two girls in different directions.

"Isha help me!" Zari cried hysterically. "Zari I'm coming. I'm coming hold on!" Isha screamed. Her friend's cries motivating her resistance. "Put me down!" The friends' cries and screams echoed for miles around. Isha struggled the whole walk to the holding room. Her assault didn't weaken until Zari was wrenched from her. Her heart shattered for the second time in her life.

Her shouts soon melded into wails. Her anguish reverberated around the complex. Her family ripped from her for a second time. The dirt floor beneath her, the only clue that she was still in Wakanda. The tent flapped quietly in the spring heat. The sounds of the mosquitoes and cicadas, her only company. Her head hung low to her chest. The uniforms of several Dora Milaje floated into her line of vision. The thud of their spears was muffled by the jungle floor. "Leave us." T'Chaka's voice boomed. The Dora's boots filed out of her vision. "You do not rise to greet your king?"

"As far as I am concerned. You are no longer my king. You have ripped my parents from me. Now you are taking apart the only family I have left."

"Your parents committed a crime against Wakanda-" T'Chaka argued. "By trying to bring a pregnant woman here to save her baby!" Isha cut him off. "She was an outsider!" He boomed. "She was dying!" Isha hissed. 

"That was not our problem!" He finished. "You know what your problem is?" Isha spat." You try to be so perfect, you ruin the lives of your people." She shook her head. "This will be for Zari's own good," the king replied. "If she stays here the media will hound her day in and day out. This way she doesn't have to disappoint her parents and she and the baby get a peaceful life." The king attempted to reason.

"Bullshit!" Isha yelled. "Don't act like you are doing whatever you are doing for her! This is about you. Your picture-perfect family. Your upstanding son who will be the next king. This is all about your image. You couldn't give a damn about Zari or your grandson." T'Chaka froze. "I'm sorry you feel that way Isha-" the king cleared his throat. "Maybe some time away from your friend will help you understand, I'm doing what's best for everyone."