Niyonga's Journey

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

When mama does that, I am stunned. I don't know what to feel at that moment. Fear? Happiness? Both?

Fear was the one.

After my mother did that, the room went silent. Amara wondered why and looked up from crying, and almost immediately after that, the man takes out his whip and cracks it. This makes me and everyone else jump.

And then it happens, the man-with brutal force, whips mama across the face, leaving a nasty gash across her cheek. I immediately start crying my eyes out.

But mother stands in shock and realizes what just happened and she lets out a blood-curdling scream because of the pain. The man laughs and moves on, chaining more people to the walls.

"Are you ok mama!?" I yell, while my voice is horse from crying. Mama try's to respond but instead, she yelps in pain. She cannot move her face without immense pain shooting through it.

"It's ok mama. It'll get better soon." I say in hopes of it being the truth.

Amara, starring at mama, mouth agape, turns to me and says "I'm sorry they did that to yo' mama, child." And then looks back to mama and says "I'm sorry they did that to you ma'am."

"I am too. I can't even believe it right now." I say. Meanwhile, mama, still not able to talk, nods. And Amara and I know what it means. "Thank you." Or "I am too" I assume is what she would say.

It makes me more sad to see that my mama is so far away from me. And then, it hits me like a tree branch to the face. Akuo! Where's Akuo!? Mama's here now, but where is my little brother? I feel sorry for Akuo. He must be scared to death without us by his side. "Where's-" I stop my self from finishing my sentence because I remember, mama still can't talk.

Amara catches me and says "What you say, Niyonga?"

"Nothing, forget it." I say.

"No, what were you gonna say, child." Amara demands.

"I was going to ask my mama where Akuo was..." I say softly.

"Akuo?" Amara says.

"My little brother." I reply, with my voice shaking. I'm ready to cry again, but I stop myself before I do.

"Oh ... Well don't worry, girl, you'll find 'em soon." She says, trying to comfort me.

"I hope I do" I sigh.

After that was over with and everything seemed to have settled a bit, it was dark outside. Usually, I'd be asleep by now, but I couldn't fall asleep. I can't fall asleep. Not knowing what just happened to my mother and not knowing where the hell this ship is taking us. I don't even know why these damn people showed up in the first place. What could they possibly want from us that they don't already have?!

After thinking about those things for awhile, I finally was able to get a little rest. But it wasn't long or peaceful like you'd expect sleep to be, oh no. I was awoken by some of the white skinned men walking around with two buckets. One with something that looked like some kind of food that had been left out in the sun, and the other bucket, had water in it.

Each bucket had some kind of oval looking, big spoon that they were using to scoop out the food and water. Each person got one scoop of food into their hands, and one drink of water. As they were making their way over to me, Amara says to me "Cup yo' hands and hold 'em out." So I do. And then, once the men get to me, one places a glob of--whatever kind of food this is--into my hand, and the other man gives me one drink of dirty water. Then, I eat the 'food' and it tastes horrible but I haven't eaten since yesterday so it doesn't matter.

I knew that food wasn't good. I've been hurling for the past hour at least and so has Amara. That had to have been the worst food I've ever had. But, at least it's something. I could die if I don't eat, Kilani told me. I start to wonder where those men took her. I look around, searching the whole of the room for her. But I don't see her.

"Kalani?" I say. There is no answer.

Amara hears me.

"Who Kalani?" She says in question.

"Kalani is, well...was our village doctor. She was the first one those men attacked. When she was being attacked, No one knew why. We all just stood there, Staring at what was happening right in front of our eyes. But, my mama just said 'Fight back!' like the rest of the a adults did." I say.

"Oh. Well I'm sorry bout that, child." She responds, comfort in her voice.

"I just wish I could find someone from my village. it's so dark in here I can barely see you, Amara." I reply with my voice shaking, I'm ready to cry again and Amara knows it. She starts to sing a song that I don't know but the words sound so beautiful that it makes me smile instead of cry.