Selene
“Burn her!”
“Kill her!”
Those cruel words filled the air as I laid on the dusty floor, centred by people of my kind.
Witches and wizards.
Witches and wizards that gathered around me for a common interest. To have me dead.
“Set her ablaze!”
“Murderer!
“What an abomination!”
“Outcast!”
They chanted angrily, tossing my toddler figure around as people scratched and hit me to their satisfaction.
“Such evil!”
“Disgusting!” A woman screamed, scrunching up her nose in disgust like I was thrash.
“Hypocrite!” Another tossed me aside, making me fall to the ground, wearily.
I sat on the cold floor, watching the angry mob that was ready to lynch me in confusion.
Why did they want me dead?
I have been a good witch.
What did I do wrong? I racked my toddler brain, but answers eluded it.
Afraid of their incessant chants and angry faces, I scurried to my feet, about to run away from it, to end it all but a kick sent me crashing to the cold floor, kissing the dust.
“Leave me alone,” I tried to scream when I had found my voice but my weak voice failed me as the mob yells grew louder, swallowing my tiny voice.
“Please,” I sobbed, wiping tears from the back of my palm before I touched a sticky liquid on my face.
I was bleeding!
I was slowly losing consciousness and they failed to release me.
My blurry eyes scanned through the crowd, searching for someone, anyone who could save me from them.
I was dying. I could feel it.
But I was left with none.
Where was grandma?
She was the only one who could save me.
“Killer!” A woman screamed, pointing accusing fingers at me.
Despite my blurred vision and blood dripping from my face, I recognized the woman.
I used to play with her daughter in the neighbourhood. But today, she was accusing me.
Accusing me of being responsible for my parents’ death!
How soon was she to forget that I was her daughter’s friend? She was supposed to defend me, but here she was turning her back on me when I needed her the most.
How could a toddler kill one’s parents knowing how dearly I loved them?
They claimed some strange black magic was in my possession and I had used it to cut my parents’ life short, while others claimed I was an adult that transformed myself into the body of a child, concealing my identity to perpetrate evil.
How easy was it to judge!
“Evil child!” Two teenagers called me, spitting their saliva on my exposed body.
Evil child. It rang a bell.
Ever since my mother died as a result of complications during my birth, I bagged the name, Evil child.
The villagers claimed that dying during or after childbirth had never occurred since powerful witches reside in the village.
But on that fateful day, my mother breathed her last. Or should I say, I had killed my mother, according to the villagers’ report.
After the tragic incident, I lived with my father, hoping for a life free of troubles but as fate had it, I lost my father to the cold hands of death.
Alerted by his demise, the villagers sprang up in fury, raiding the house in search of me, swearing not to leave till I was lynched.
Tired of the endless game of hide and seek, I got caught and was dragged to the town square for open humiliation and also as a warning for anyone who dared stain his hands with black magic and murder.
But I was innocent!
I was innocent. I screamed, but they hushed me, sending me to the ground each time my shaky legs tried to stand on their own.
And now, I curled up in a ball, with my tiny hands protecting my lily body from kicks.
I could feel life slowly seeping out of me.
I could see my parents standing far off, waiting for me with open arms and wide smiles, beckoning unto me to come home.
Maybe it was better this way.
I missed them dearly.
“Stop it!”
“Stop this madness at once!” An angry voice thundered behind the crowd, hushing them.
All eyes were on the old woman who walked energetically toward my curled body.
A weary smile spread softly on my face as she appeared clearer and clearer.
“Grandma,” I gasped, calling out to her before coughing.
“What have you done to my grandchild?!” She demanded angrily, a horrid look flashing on her face.
“The right thing, Sage,” Another voice answered, taking long strides to where she stood.
The head wizard.
“And you call beating a toddler to a pulp and lynching her the right thing?” Her voice shook as she stared at my almost unconscious body.
I could tell that grandma was close to tears but she was holding herself.
“What else is the right thing to do to this Evil child? This abomination sent to destroy us all free dealing with her parents? This…”
“Enough!” Her voice shook the earth, making thunderclap, “I will not have you call my grandchild evil names. She is innocent and that is it. People die every time and her parents were unfortunate to die. It doesn’t mean she killed them. They are also my children,” She spat, hissing loudly, “I am so ashamed of you. You all,” She screamed at the crowd.
“Our minds are made up, Sage, we will lynch this abomination tonight,” The head wizard declared with an air of finality, raising his staff in my direction.
“Shut up! You will lynch nobody,” She gritted her teeth in irritation, “Now, release her,” She said in a whisper, but her voice was as clear as thunder.
“Sage…”
“Release her at once!”
“No, Sage. You are making a big mistake. Releasing her means you and her will be excommunicated and will live alone in misery forever as outcasts. You will lose your properties as well as your titles and you will be banished… forever… I am sure you don’t want that to happen. Remember everything you worked for, your high positions and your properties will be gone this instant. m because of her. Is she really worth it?” He said, hoping he would trick my grandmother with his cunning words.
“The only mistake I made is still standing before you calmly. And just so you know, I don’t give a shit about your stupid position or any property. Release my granddaughter at once,”
A long sigh of relief rolled from my lips and a small smile plastered on my face.
Finally,
“You’re ready to forego…”
“I am ready to face the consequences. I want my grandchild now!” Sage demanded, walking toward me and scooping me into her loving arms before she was granted permission.
“So be it!”