Chapter One
The sun was high in the sky. Waves crashed on the shore. Trees swayed in the wind. Seagulls sang. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. This is the best day ever. It had finally stopped raining and the sun was out. I was able to go out and lay on the beach finally. I took a piece of vine, which I tied in a circle and kept around my wrist, and tied my dark brown hair. These things stretch.
A dark shadow loomed over me, blocking the sun. I sighed as I looked up to see my sister with a cheery grin. “Yes?” I questioned as I lifted my hand to cover my eyes, blocking the sun from my eyes.
“Kami, can you play the hopping game? Please, please, plllleeeaaseeeee...” Zuri begged, pouting and making her dark chocolate eyes wide and blinking more. Her brown hair swayed in the wind. Zuri was six-years-old and can make you smile by just looking how happy she is. In the village she is always skipping around with her friends. No one can ever get mad at her...except for me and her brother, Maalik, but that because we are family.
The hopping game is a game children play. With sticks you make a large circle and you put small sticks in some places. You spin around and then toss the rock and where ever stick is close to the rock, you must jump there with one foot. If it happened to be a small stick, the other team member must tell you to do something and you have to do it. I actually haven’t played this game in a while.
“You know me Zuri, a sixteen year old is never too old to play children games.” I teased her, poking her stomach. She giggled and slapped my arm away. I laughed too. “Go ask your brother if he wants to play. And give him that same face.” I grinned.
Maalik is 14 with brown eyes and short black hair. He has become a very handsome kid. He is also a ladies’ man. I laughed. Right now he is probably with a bunch of girls. Hey but no one can say no to Zuri’s face.
Zuri face brightened. “OK!” she smiled and skipped off to find Maalik in our hut where the rocks and sticks are to play. I bended my knees toward my chest and placed my head on them. I stared out into the ocean, looking as far as I could. I wonder what’s out there.
“AHHH......” a scream came from the other side of the village.
I jumped on my feet, startled like a cat when hearing a crash nearby. I scanned the area where I was. I didn’t see anything unusual. What's happening? I sprinted to where there was more yelling. I weaved through the huts but stopped before I could get into view. If something bad was happening, best that I wasn’t seen. I pressed my back against the wall of a hut. Slowly and carefully, I looked out.
My eyes widen. People, my people were being tied up by their arms and necks they were yelling for help. I scanned the faces. I saw the doctor, the cook, and the person who helped me take care of Zuri and Maalik when our parents died. I knew everyone that was there. What broke my heart was that my friends were also tied up. I needed to help them. I couldn’t just let them suffer. Before I stepped out someone made eye contact with me. Instead of saying help like I expected she mouthed one word to me run. Deciding to listen, I knew that I would be no help if I got caught. So made up my mind and ran toward my hut, praying that Zuri and Maalik were there or as far away from here as possible.
I ran inside but saw...Nothing. No one was there. I blew a sigh of relief. They got away. I ran back outside and decided to run. A sharp pain went through my leg. OW! I looked down and saw the sticks and stones scattered in front of the hut. I observed to the sand, and saw feet marks but more than there should be. I could tell that there was someone that was struggling. My blood froze. Oh no, oh no, oh no!
