Who We Were Born To Be (Niam) [ON HOLD]

Prologue: Created for a Purpose

Who We Were Born To Be

A sequel to Take Me To Another World.

Prologue

Z'Took's point of view, 2009, Africa

Z'Took stared into the fire, and focused his mind, concentrating. He let the flames burn away his thoughts until the future came into view.

Z'Took saw himself die. The men came for him. They always did. He had seen it over and over again. He attempted once again to trace the paths of the futures to try to understand why it would happen. Why is it that white men I have never met, who have never been to my village, come to kill me? He had pondered this question for months now.

Tracing the futures over and over again led to him to one point. The death of James Matthews in the prison. That event is key. That is the crossroad between the futures.

Matthews must not be allowed to die. If he dies, we all die. Z'Took sorted the futures for a long time, looking at alternative possibilities. An image of James Matthews kissing a boy came into focus. Z'Took's eyes opened wide in surprise and the vision broke. Kissing a boy?! Homosexuality was not accepted in Z'Took's culture, and was illegal in his country. Z'Took had heard a case of a homosexual being stoned to death in the nearby city. But regardless of his immoral ways, it is essential that he not die.

Z'Took shook his head and concentrated, refocusing on the future possibility he had seen. The boy's face reappeared. He had bright blue eyes and pale skin and hair the same colour as the skin. Z'Took traced the paths of the futures carefully.

For almost an entire year, Z'Took returned again and again to those futures, tracing the possibilities.

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Finally Z'Took decided. It is time to do this. I have sifted the futures long enough. It is time for action. The journey, by foot, to Narou's village took two days.

As he walked into Narou's village, some of those standing around eyed him with suspicion. The tribal markings on his arms and face indicated his own clan and village, and the two groups did not always get on. But he was alone, and old. And more importantly, a witchdoctor. They made way for him, bowing their heads slightly in respect, but mostly in fear, lest he curse them.

“Welcome Z'Took,” Narou's voice spoke in his mind as he walked toward Narou's hut. Z'Took walked into Narou's hut and sat down facing the other witchdoctor. “I have not seen you in some time,” Narou continued. “Tell me, what does the future hold for us all?” Z'Took had often shared his visions with Narou in the past, both those that troubled him and those of hope.

“I am here, old friend, because I see a future that is darker than the darkest night,” Z'Took replied. “Death for me. And for you. And for all those in the world with magic. It must not be allowed to come to pass. And yet its coming is all but certain.”

“Oh? And what do you propose we do about it?” Narou asked, still speaking his thoughts straight into Z'Took's mind. Z'Took's old friend did not like speaking aloud more than necessary.

“There is one who can save us all. And yet he is destined to die in a prison. He needs companions. I have sifted the paths of fate and found five who need to be united. Together they will save him,” Z'Took replied.

“Tell me more.”

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