Michela

CHAPTER TWELVE

I bent down to touch Cornelius's face just as the others ran to his side. He was unconscious and cold. Martha had gotten to work.

"where did the arrow freaking come from?" Leon yelled.

A war cry broke out, we looked up immediately. A group of dark skinned men, holding the crudest weapons I had ever seen in my life ran towards us.  They adorned their heads with feathers, they were bare chested, covering their unmentionables with just a tiny pouch; Leaving their buttock out freely in the open. Was it only in England Men wore clothes? Leon had grabbed his sword.  August, his Knives. Festus had cracked his knuckles ready for action.

"Guys! Stop! These people can help us."

"I hardly see how these people who are looking at us like we're pieces of shit can help us." August argued.

"Just lay low, they outnumber us anyways."

They lowered their weapons. The undressed army surrounded us, and aimed their stone weapons at us. I raised my hands up, the others followed suit except Martha who was busy attending to Cornelius. They scanned us for a while before one of them who I concluded was their leader started shouting instructions in a foreign language. He pointed at us, they ran to each one of us. They seized our weapons, tied our hands behind our backs, with ropes made from grass. Festus was the only one exempted; he was made to carry Cornelius. They led us away.

After what felt like an hour, we got to a settlement. The most basic I had ever seen. They're houses were made of mud, some; bamboo. I looked around in awe until Leon tapped me. Before us was a big chair made of mud, decorated with flowers and feathers; most likely a throne. On it was seated a man about Festus' size; their king. Behind us were several equally dark skinned people screaming at the top of their lungs in a language I couldn't understand, with faces that showed extreme anger and distaste. I didn't want to understand what they were saying, I already had an idea.

"What the hell are they screaming about?" August whisper-yelled to us.

"They're asking for our heads to be hung as a trophy at the village hall."

Augustus whimpered, while the rest of us looked at Festus in shock.

"I study other languages." He shrugged.

"why do they want us dead? we don't even know them." Leon asked

"They think we're responsible for the disappearances caused by the werewolves."

"They should be kissing our feet for saving them from the freaking werewolves!" August said in disbelief.

"SILENCE!"  their king bellowed.

Everyone shut up almost immediately. I finally found someone that could speak English. He faced us;

"I don't like Englishmen. What are you doing in the land of the Zazuzulu people!"

"We were travelling, minding our business, before your men captured us for no reason." Martha said in anger.  This was not the time for Martha to show her temper. The look of Horror on August's face confirmed it.

"You think you smart right? My men, they kill anytime." He said menacingly at Martha who was starting to foam in the mouth.

The crowd began to roar again.

"We want to stop Selena!" August blurted out.

"August! You can't just tell everyone that!" Festus chided

At the mention of Selena, the crowd went silent. Their eyes opened widely in horror, even the king's. He beckoned to us to follow him. He led us into one of the huts, and told his guards to say at a distance.