The Colonial Heart

Chapter 28

                                A M A

As I stood amidst the ravaged landscape, Yaa's voice pierced the air, her dark eyes wide with horror.

"Goodness no."

I bestowed a final, bitter kiss upon my mother's forehead, the warmth of her skin now a fleeting, taunting memory. With a resolute determination, I rose, my skirts swirling around me like a dark, malevolent tempest.

"We must depart, before the guards discover us," I declared, my voice devoid of emotion, laced with a harsh, biting tone.

Yaa's gaze lingered on my mother's lifeless form, her eyes brimming with tears. "We cannot abandon her thus," she whispered, her voice trembling. I turned away, my heart heavy with grief, yet my resolve unwavering, my anger simmering just below the surface. "If you wish to bear a corpse for eternity, then do so. But I shall not be swayed by sentiment."

The silence between us was oppressive, punctuated solely by the sound of Yaa's ragged breathing. I began to walk, my footsteps echoing through the stillness, my eyes scanning the desolate landscape with a mixture of disdain and desperation. Yaa followed, her footsteps hesitant, her eyes fixed on me with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

"How did this calamity befall us?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with venom and accusation. Yaa's response was laced with fear and uncertainty. "I know not... it was sudden... I slumbered, and all I could hear were screams and cries then I fled for my life, leaving all behind."

"How did you loose the others?"

"I heard a cry and I followed the noise, leaving the others."

I halted, my eyes narrowing, my anger flaring hot and fierce. "You could have spoken of this before! Now, lead the way, and pray that we find our people ere it's too late. Though I doubt it matters, for we are all doomed, anyway."

"Why are you speaking like this?!"
Yaa asked, her voice laced with a sudden anger.

"Do you wish to succumb to death?, I believe not so would you hush and lead the way!"

Yaa's eyes flashed with defiance, yet she turned, her footsteps quickening as she navigated through the darkness, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance, her jaw set in determination. I followed, my heart heavy with sorrow, my mind consumed by thoughts of my mother, and the betrayal that still lingered, a festering wound that refused to heal.

As we approached our people, I beheld the fear etched on their faces, the way they clung to one another, seeking solace in a time of uncertainty. Akwasi rushed towards me, his arms open, but I repelled him, my heart too raw, too bitter to accept his comfort. "Do not touch me," I spat, my voice  venomous. "Your comfort is nothing but a hollow mockery."

The whispers and murmurs of our people filled the air, a sense of unease settling over me like a shroud. I espied a man polishing metal, his hands moving with precision, crafting weapons for our protection. A dagger caught my eye, its gold hilt glinting in the firelight, a ruby nestled in its center, a haunting reminder of William's necklace, a symbol of his betrayal, his lies.

I claimed the dagger, feeling its weight in my hand, a sense of purpose settling over me, a sense of bitter determination. The man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "A gift, for a beautiful maiden," he said, his voice low and soothing.

"Thank you."

My gaze fell upon the necklace, a bitter reminder of William's deceit. I yearned to cast it aside, yet a part of me clung to it, a foolish reminder of a love that had never been, a love that had been nothing but a lie. I tied my hair, the dagger nestled in its new home, a symbol of my resolve, a reminder of the pain that had shaped me, the bitterness that had forged me.
_______________________________

Thank you so much for reading I do hope you enjoyed the chapter, have a great day or night!
Also I'm terribly sorry for the short chapter, I found writing this rather hard for some reason but I most definitely will be publishing a long one soon!