The Ancient Stone - Episode 2

 

Their guardian angels weren't far from them because the footsteps retraced.

They were alive, at least for today and they were thankful they had each other.

They couldn't wait to be reunited with their parents.

"Ray, Gaby!!,"

Silence.

"Girls!!!"

A familiar voice cried out louder.

It was Grandma Dee calling.

They breathed a huge sigh of relief.

They had been cramped in the closet for at least two hours.

Their leg muscles were numb and the cramped space didn't make things any easy.

Ray had Gaby's hands cupped in hers and would occasionally free it to wipe off that any tear that dropped from her sister's eyes, assuring her they would be fine; though she didn't believe it herself .

Ray had always been the most protective one of the two.

She had taken lots of spanks for her sister, scolded and always asked to look after Gaby.

Older by ten minutes, their mother had told them, her especially, of how she lightly brushed her hand over Gaby's face and her little sister giving the purest smile.

That was when their parents knew Ray would always take care of her sister.

The girls ran down the stairs forgetting the pain that made their legs wobbly.

Visibly terrified, they ran into their grandmother's arms.

Their almost dried tears glistened in the sun that was at its peak.

Grandma Dee looked at them with a lot of hurt as she made them promise they would be strong and never give up.

All they did in affirmation was to no.

It was Gaby who spoke first.

"We want to go to dad and mum. Please, take us to them."

her pleading but terrified eyes shot at their grandmother.

Grandma Dee broke the news to them, one that would devastate them and change their lives forever.

She had stepped out to buy the fresh milk they needed for cheese when the news of the attack hit her.

The news was spreading like wildfire and she immediately became aware of her daughter and son in-law's passing.

She told them their parents had died, about the attack that had begun and the urgency to leave the place called home and run or do anything just to be safe.

The girls looked wearily at their grandmother as though her features were more apparent.

They didn't have the strength to cry anymore.

Her frail legs could only carry them a certain distance.

They stood no chance, they would die.

It was as if their grandmother had read their minds because she drew them close, gave each one a kiss on the cheek and told them it will be okay.

They didn't fully understand what it meant but they knew they already miss their parents.

Their grandmother quickly asked them to get some food for their journey, lots of water and some clothes but as twelve year olds travelling with a fragile old woman, there was a limit to what they carried carry; food and water that will sustain them for a day and half, only if they ate with a lot of caution.

They travelled east towards the river.

Rumors have it that the neighboring village to the west, the Lerians who forever had bad blood with them were coming to attack and maybe enslave them.

The Lerians had more sophisticated weapons, both foot and horse soldiers while they in Naya were mostly farmers and fishermen.

There was no winning to this war.

For the two first hours of their search for refuge, no one said a word.

Their lips were parched and the sun chose that day to be unfriendly.

There's always extreme of temperatures in Naya.

The sand that covered their feet and legs looked like it would be just enough to build a little hut.

Grandma looked even more worn out

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-ancient-stone

. She looked at the girls and tried to force a smile, a gesture that was not reciprocated.

They tried walk under the shadows the trees casted but the sun was no lesser.

The only sound in the woods was that of leaves being crushed by their feet and birds mocking, those birds had to be mocking them! As they stopped for a rest, grandma motioned for water and Gaby handed water in a medium sized bottle to her, she knew better than to take any more than few gulps though her parched throat longed for more.

She offered water to the girls who looked like life had long gone out of them but they never reached to take it even though every fibre of their being needed it.

She knew they needed to find a place to sleep but was of the realization they had only covered a few kilometers and weren't far from harm's reach.

They however, couldn't do more than they've done but chose to hope the distance they covered will be enough to keep them safe.

The river was still a good way ahead but they were close to the border between their village Naya and a smaller village, Opnalia.

Nayan and Opnalia didn't have any feud but the latter being a smaller village, was more intimidated by the Leria.

They were more local with thatched huts and their meadows were more local class.

Grandma knew if they'd get into Opnalia they could find someone to give them shelter for the night as her sister, Tessa lived there before she died.

She would visit her by a local chariot, play with her kids and often times take Mary to see her cousins.

Aunt Tessa was a firm woman but it didn't mask her nice nature.

Her children, Nicole and Ema used to love having Mary around.

Nicole had lots of suitors.

Being beautiful, every man wanted her.

She later settled with Rick, a man from another village who was quite wealthy.

Ema was promiscuous, she ran away from home and nothing has been heard of her ever since.

Grandma's wandering mind was brought back to reality when she heard dried leaves crushing under footsteps.

She knew it was neither of the three of them for they were still resting.

She drew the girls closer and hid them behind a tree even though the tree wasn't a perfect cover as their frames were still visible.

By now, it was almost dark. Time had flown by so quickly.

Either they were too tired to realize it or they ignored it. She could see a silhouette, it looked like a man.

He was wielding something in one of his hands.

It looked like a knife.

Oh God, it's a knife.