CHAPTER THREE
Is this how I am going to die, without avenging my parents' death and all the suffering I endured for the past few years? I asked myself as hot tears flowed endlessly down my cheeks. The pain was too much.
When I escaped from the witch covenant, I spent two days roaming around the scary jungle trying to find my way back to my hometown. It was not easy. I ended up believing that I had lost my mind because I kept walking around only to return to the same place where I had started.
It was already dark. The jungle was full of wild beasts roaming around, looking for any living creature to devour. The sounds of the wild animals made my whole body tremble with fear. I was tired; I could barely feel my body anymore.
With the little strength I had left, I managed to climb up a tree, shaking like grass inside a river because of hunger. I rested on the branch of a fig tree. At that moment, I mocked myself. Look how I had gotten used to eating every day where I was kept by the witches, forgetting all the past years of hunger and suffering I endured at my uncle's house—surviving on crumbs of bread that fell under the table while those who did not kick their destiny away enjoyed their meals.
Remembering everything—even the hunger attacking me at that moment—I strangely forgot my pain. I even felt full.
I looked up to heaven and started to cry, telling the stars to tell my parents how much I had suffered. Before I knew it, it was already midnight. Because of exhaustion, I dozed off and even forgot where I was.
It was already dawn when I felt a sharp pain on my neck, as if someone had stabbed me with a long dagger. I screamed while my eyes were still closed.
Within minutes, I felt something scratching my whole body with sharp claws. I screamed with all my lungs. The pain was unbearable.
I slowly opened my eyes, and what I saw made me gasp and close them again in terror. Wild beasts surrounded me, ready to make me their meal. The biggest one had already sunk its long teeth into my neck.
How did I end up on the ground? I clearly remembered sleeping on the tree. Did I fall down?
Was this going to be my end before I could take my revenge?
Even though I wanted to be with my parents in the land of the dead, I first wanted to avenge them and myself.
I felt another sharp pain at the back of my neck.
That's it. This is my end.
Mom and Dad, finally we can be together again as a complete family in the holy land where no one betrays or mistreats others, where there are no wicked creatures called human beings.
I hated them deeply.
No… I can't die. I must get my revenge first.
Godmother, please save me.
It felt like a dream, talking to myself inside my heart. Then I heard a loud roar like a giant beast. I don't know what happened next, because after that sound I became unconscious.
The next day, it was already midday when I found myself lying beside the road at the edge of our town.
I panicked.
Who brought me here? Did my godmother save me from the beasts?
I touched my neck and felt no pain—not even a scratch.
Was I dreaming, or did my godmother truly save me? But if she did, why would she bring me back to my town instead of taking me back to her covenant as their meal?
I pushed those thoughts away and walked straight to the king's palace to report my enemies.
When I arrived there, the palace guards did not allow me to enter. They even pushed me away from the palace entrance.
Another thought came to my mind. What if they refused to let me see the king? I could go to the police station instead. No one would stop me there.
As I took a few steps away from the palace gate, I heard a deep voice command the guards to let me in.
It was the prince.
I did not see his face, but I heard the guards respond respectfully, calling him "Your Highness."
I felt relieved.
They took me to meet the king in the courtroom. When I arrived there, I panicked upon seeing my uncle drinking royal wine with the king.
There was no turning back now, I told myself.
I knelt before the king and greeted him. When he commanded me to speak, I lifted my face and saw panic flash across my uncle's expression. He dropped his glass of wine and fainted.
The king instructed the guards to call the royal doctor to check on him.
The king then told me to continue with my case.
I explained everything from the beginning—how my uncle abused me and how they tried to kill me.
After my explanation, I saw the king become furious and call the guards.
I was happy, thinking someone was finally going to stand by me.
To my surprise, the guards were scolded by the king for allowing me to enter the palace and waste his time.
He did not believe my story.
He said that at my age, if what I said was true, how could I still be alive after being thrown into a dam where only trained divers could enter?
Also, I did not have a single scar showing how the crocodiles had attacked me.
How could any mortal born of a woman survive such a calamity?
Yet he did not even bother to investigate my case.
The guards and some elders in the council, after hearing my story, mocked me. Some even advised the king to punish me before releasing me.
They laughed and scolded me, calling me an ungrateful brat.
Their voices stabbed my heart with sharp pain as they echoed in my ears.
They reminded me of Mara, my cousin—how she used to giggle while stepping on me under the table as I waited for crumbs of bread to fall while they ate.
I screamed.
I felt like the whole world had abandoned me.
Was I cursed? A reject that nobody wanted?
The guards were instructed to flog me with a stick before releasing me.
That punishment, they said, would teach me never to lie or slander again.
I was beaten on my back, my buttocks, and under my feet.
I did not cry.
I only wanted to die and join my parents.
Human beings… all of them… I hated them with every vein in my body.
When I had lost all hope of living, I remembered the words of my godmother:
"You will become a great witch. Join our covenant, and you will avenge your parents and yourself."
I told myself I was not going to die here.
Godmother, if you can hear my inner voice, save me. This time I will obey you and become your trusted servant. I must avenge myself and my parents.
After those words, I heard the same voice that had commanded the guards earlier.
The prince ordered the guards to release me immediately.
He offered me water to drink and bandaged my wounds.
Again, I could not see his face, as if he was avoiding me.
After that, I was released.
This time, I returned to the jungle with hatred and bitterness toward all humans.
END OF CHAPTER THREE