CHAPTER 2

Mrs. Black didn’t even pause to analyze the matter before storming out in fury, wielding a long thorny cane to lash Tonia. Alarmed—and giving no superhero a chance to intervene—Tonia bolted into the bush.

Farther and farther she ran, thorns and weeds piercing her dry skin, yet she did not stop. Her breath grew ragged, her legs heavy. Eventually, she tripped and fell to her knees—only then realizing she had narrowly escaped death, which had approached with a warm, deceiving grin on her stepmother’s face. 😁😘

She sat on a fallen tree, trembling and gasping for air...

Huh? Seems our girl, Tonia, will take over from here. ✌️

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Realizing I was nowhere near the edge of the bush, I tried to find my way out but kept returning to the same spot. I was well and truly lost. I sat on a fallen tree trunk and began to cry—loud, heaving sobs that echoed through the woods like a broken drum.

I shouted for help, hoping someone—ANYONE—might hear me. But no one came. I didn’t stop yelling until I heard the scolding hoot of an owl (probably fed up with my noise). I immediately fell silent.

At my age then, I had heard folktales from the elders in my community—tales of owl-faced masquerades who stole away weeping children for their dark rituals. The stories came alive in my mind and chilled me more than the night air.

After checking that nothing was nearby, I laid down to sleep on the cold tree trunk. The night was far from easy. The cold struck my bones, strange sounds chilled my soul, and eerie thoughts nearly killed me with fright, over and over again. I curled into myself like a trembling leaf.

“Finally!” I exclaimed in disbelief and relief when morning came.

I thought to myself, If Heaven has given me a second chance to live, then I must try to survive.

With effort and struggle, I finally managed to catch a small prey—a rabbit, I think—and made a fire for warmth. By then, it was already late in the afternoon.

As I cut the meat to roast, a bush monkey darted past and snatched it from me. I chased it relentlessly until it scrambled up a tall tree. I cursed it, but it chattered back furiously—as if cursing me in return with its wild, bushy tail twitching.

Alas, I had to give up the meat.

I wandered down a narrow, unclear path, my bony knees knocking together like bamboo sticks. Then I lifted my eyes and saw a beautiful, flowing brook. With joy, I dropped to its banks and lapped the water like a dog.

At least that wretched bush monkey led me to a water source.

After drinking, reality hit me again. I slumped onto a fallen tree and wept bitterly.

My crying grew so loud and disturbing that it roused a cobra from its slumber beneath the tree. It hissed and nearly struck me. Terrified, I tried to flee from that venomous creature—one that clearly didn’t understand the pain I was already facing.

But in my panic, I slipped into quicksand.

And before I could even realize what was happening…

…I was sinking.

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