THE DESTINY GAME (Intersex)

Prologue

Author's Note: Before you proceed, please be aware of the trigger warning. Also, 80% of the plot will be altered, so many changes will occur. I recommend reading 'The Tempest Obsession' first before 'The Destiny Game'.

Seventeen years ago

River Zahara Ghazini

"Mama... wala na pong gatas si Nini."

"Gawan mo ng paraan. Wala akong lakas para maglakad!" Bulyaw ni Mama saakin. Napabuntong hininga ako saka napatingin sa orasan na nakasabit sa wall. 7:00PM. Walking around Sharan becomes incredibly dangerous when night falls. Our village was once peaceful, but with the arrival of the Taliban, it has turned into a dangerous place. The Taliban has proliferated, some of them engaged to a ruthless syndicate that commits acts of r*pe, kidnapping, and even trafficking victims to neighboring countries as slaves.

I left Mama's room and headed to the living room. Baba (Father) began lighting candles, the only source of light for us. We haven't had electricity for a long time because we can't afford to pay for it. We also fetch water from the oasis, which is about twenty minutes away on foot. We survived in this way of life, Atleast we breathe.

"I'm going to the local store, Baba. I need to buy milk for Nini," I said. I glanced around. Six empty beer bottles lay shattered on the table, alongside an empty bag of dried dates. His gaze fell on me, scrutinizing me from head to toe. He had intimidating, bleary eyes. He was a tall, skinny old man with a defined jaw, eyebrows that were constantly furrowed, and wrinkles covering every inch of his face.

"No, I need you here. You've been gone all damn day." He snaps.

Everyday from 7:00AM to 5:00PM I've been working at the vineyard. Wala akong pahinga araw-araw dahil araw-araw kelangan namin kumain. Araw-araw kelangan kong bilhan ng gatas ang kapatid ko. I'm exhausted but for what feels like a millionth time? Ay pag nawawalan ng diaper at gatas ang kapatid ko.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'll be turning ten years old. Imbis na masaya at excited ako gaya ng ibang mga bata pag kaarawan nila. Ako hindi, dahil bukas kelangan ko ulit magtrabaho para may pambili ng mga kelangan sa bahay. I know, I'm too young para magkaroon ng ganitong responsibility at magtrabaho sa vineyard, picking grapes and squeezing them to make wine. It goes against Sharia law, and if I caught, my parents will face punishment of imprisonment and sixty times lashes.

Too risky, pero nagiingat ako dahil kung hindi ako kikilos paano na ang kapatid ko. She's just a baby... Honestly, I only think about Nini, so even though the work is hard for my young and thin body, I endure it.

"Kelangan nya ng diaper at gatas!" I argue. Baba gave me a stern look and took a step closer to me. As he approached, he delivered a strong slap on my cheek. He didn't tolerate a disrespectful child, but I couldn't hold back my frustration because I was concerned for my sister.