Table of contents
Prologue
Prologue
SAMARU
The newly married Couple in their pickup on their way to their forever home. They are from receiving blessings from their parents and were given the pickup truck as a gift from her father.
The name of the couple is the Cheizhaite. Lopus Cheizhaite & Vulpes Cheizhaite. Lopus is driving her father's pickup with the music playing on the stereo Oliver Mtukudzi's track song TODINI. She turns down the volume .
"Honey, could you check if we got the keys, we better not have forgotten them at Mama's hut." Lopus says staring blankly at the road, Vulpes checks his pockets and in the baskets of gifts they had in the back seats. He moves the sleeping kids from who were on top of the baskets. The kids were Vulpes & Lopus' two daughters, Mela who was six years and Yendo who was two years old who were exhausted from playing and running the whole day.
"Please don't wake them up honey, ok." Lopus said still with her eyes on the road.
"Yea, yea I know, no need to remind me hon." Vulpes said jokingly as he puts them on their baby seats and fastens their safety belts.
"Hey hon, what about the restaurant, we open it like next month." I've talked to my manager that I would like to take a leave to stay with my lovely wife for a bit.
"Aww, hon you shouldn't have,well,actually I got some news for you too, you remember Miss Wanda? The news researcher and old classmate of mine ? She said that she would be happy to do my research for the time I will be home, O! And also she is the one that gave me the idea of taking that apartment near her home thanks to her we will be near the city, hon we should thank her properly, ok?"
"Wanda ..... wandaa.... oh wanda ! I remember her!she really did that ? Your friend is a life saver..... but that aside , the issue is ,where will our restaurant be? Like the city is full, all the buildings are occupied. I checked on the newspaper and from among my friends, they told me it's no good looking for a space in the city, and the only place where has land is the river bank. How do we get it through?
"We'll build an on water restaurant of course," she says, smiling. "Right on the riverbank. Like those floating houses in Southern Zhangira."
Vulpes looks at her, skeptical. "Floating restaurant? You're joking."
"Nope," she replies confidently still smiling showing her two sparkling white teeth. "Think about it ,The river traffic is good, especially for tourists. We serve both locals and travelers. Fish straight from the river, fruits from the nearby village and we could save on food transport i mean ,your friend can send us the stock using the C G s logi transport on the river . And peace—no honking trucks, no crowds. Just the water, great scenery,the wind, and good food."
Vulpes pauses, adjusting his seatbelt as he thinks. "That's... actually brilliant, cos actually if you think about the view, it does look it will be amazing and a spectacle to behold ."
"Told you I had it figured out," Lopus says, tapping the steering wheel proudly. "Now all we need is some wood, some nails, some Chaos—"
"That's my loppy .... wait ...what ?!" Vulpes cuts in, half-laughing, half-serious. "Chaos? In a kitchen the staff will be cook like crazzzzy !"
They both laugh. " But not as crazy as that song you sang to me in the shire ....___
"Pls no don't start that here ! "She laughs "I did my best ,believe me, and if you wanted me to sing some warrior songs boy you must have been dreaming " she says laughing out loud . Vulpes starts to blush. "Shhh! keep it down you might wake the kids up !" He says pointing the kids at the back with his thumb.
"Ok let me just shush it, ok warrior guy ?" She says giggling trying hard not to laugh at the blushed Vulpes. Some moments of silence fills the truck before Lopus breaks the silence "is something wrong? "She asks Vulpes who was quiet all this time imagining the whole scenario then broke his silence.
".... oh you are my zhangiran man.... "vulpes sings trys imitating Lopus's voice.
"No that is not how i sounded
na.na .na you so easy to love..."
"Oh my zu ! Just stop it vul !! Im gonna crush this car into a ditch if you dont stop !"
" na ... na ... what ? Are you crazy? "Vulpes cuts in shocked.
"Yep . Crazy enough to crash the car bytheway. " lopus
While they chat ,lopus accidentally drives into a pothole, making the truck sway and everything in it move so .
"Oh my be careful, Oh?" Vulpes says as he picks Lopus' glasses that fell because of the swaying truck.
"Yeah I will, ha, ha, ha," She says as she laughs.
"Thanks" she says as she puts on her glasses her husband picked for her.
"Tsk! What does the CGZ do with the budget money? I mean look like this road is poorly maintained and we have like twenty kilometers before we get to the city highway. our home hospital is closed because the doctors are not paid, now we have to rely on the medicine men and some of them didn't even have the knowledge of the professionals, this organisation is pretty usele- "
Vulpes is cut short as soon as Lopus hit the emergency brakes.
"What is it? Did we run over someone?" He is cut short again by Lopus pointing at something below the windscreen.
"Vul ,take the WHEEL! My back is apart there."
"No luppy stay right there, let me check."
Vulpes says with his breath opening the door ,the air aroun the car and the forest felt heavy .
As he steps out, he sees a green cradle on the side of the road which seemingly was knocked by the car.
Hello? Is anyone there?" he precedes cautiously.
"Hey, VUL, is there like something? Or did we knock someone? Im not ready to go to jail! Pls Vul tell me!" Lopus said with her hands trembling on the steering wheel.
"OK! Loppy, it's nothing big ok?"
"Then what is it Vul?"
"I dunno. It looks like a cradle with a baby in it, made of metal, I think we pushed it with the car, and don't worry the contents are safe." Vulpes said getting on the car. Shutting the car door.
Lopus stares blankly at him.
"What?" Vulpes says shrugging his shoulders half guilty half not sure .
STARE ***STARE*****
"Like for real Vul? You are just going to leave it there? You saw it was a baby and you left it to be there until it dies there, maybe its mother was eaten by the wild dogs while she was after giving birth or... or... or.... whatever happened during birth. Like come on Vul!!" Lopus says adjusting her round golden metallic frame glasses.
"Look! It's not like it's my fault. Or is it your fault that that baby is there? No! Then let's get going Lupy please."
Vulpes says looking a little agitated.
"Ever since the kingdom came to this Zhangira, i heard things started taking a dive in every imaginable way and sector....like where are the morals and cultural prevelage of zhagiranians these days? Nowadays people have adult time like it's nothing, thanks to the kingdom people and their evil magic (technology)
Like look at today's kids and ladies they have no -pst-This guy hates technology and the whites.
The kingdom - white people.
dressing morals at all!" he added.
"Look I know you don't like the Kingdom magic and all, but thats one of our own people and it is still young. We can't leave it in the forest, ok?" Lopus said patting Vulpes' hand while she opens the door.
"Fine, and don't get too carried away ok?!"
"Of course I will no -- gasp!, OO aww!, it's cute!!"
"There she goes!" Vulpes says rolling his eyes .
"Hmm, strange, why does it have dots on its mouth corner? Wait! There are six of them! Now this is cutee, and needs more attention.
Now Lopus is a light-skinned cultured zhangiran from northern Zangira. She is short , not too short. Let's say the petite size, she has an ample chest, black brown hair. Which made her get a lot of attention from boys ever since she started developing, which sometimes made Vulpes a bit jealous. Often men would continuously bump into her and ask to touch her like even when he was with her! TSk -iza bro.
Anyways he just shrugged it off by saying, "I expect nothing less from a beautiful girl. So... I accept you are beautiful!" He would say this eben though it sounded stupid it made her a bit emotional hugging him infront of and clinging on his arm infront of the wanna be encounters, made them dissapointed telling Lopus he was lucky.
After she picked the cradle putting it on the truck's trunk. And the child sleeping on
-pst- Zangira is a name of Africa after joining
Vulpes lap.
She checks the baby's pulse, she sighs
"I think he is safe, let's take him to the VEIL station and maybe make a statement." Says vulpes
"NO we can't vul, they will think we are the ones who kidnapped him , hmph!" Lopus said.
"Oh yeah come think of it they will ask for unnecessary fee and make a fuss if we dont ! I nearly forgot how dumb and useless these guys are, ha-ha-ha!" Vulpes added laughing.
Its been 2 weeks since the couple found the mysterious baby and they had already settled and preparing for the construction of the restaurant. Mela was outside playing with her age mates and now Yendo ...
"Mom!" Mama, "Mama!"
"Yes!"
"Could you please come wipe me now! I am finished Mama!"
"OK. OK. I am coming just a moment. OK? Let me wipe my hands and —
"Mama !!! Yendo screams.
"For Zuri's sake keep it down am coming sweetie." Lopus says heading to the bathroom.
And immediately the child starts crying.
It was in a comma from two incidents that happened earlier. First one ,the shock from push of the car and second will be explained later in the story. They called in midwife to check if its fine and safe .
"Vul could you please check on the child? I think it is hungry cause it hasn't opened its eyes or mouth for two weeks. Now, please?"
"Ahh, I get you, you don't have to beg me," He says heading to the children's room.
As soon as he approached the child's cradle a heatwave form of barrier hit him separating him from the child and throwing him off through the door. Leaving his shirt and pants half burnt, a sinister laughter is heard fading away leaving him dumbfounded and his eyes wide open.
-He gasped in shock making him whisper "You are...
CHAPTER ONE
[ ] SIXTEEN YEARS LATER
It's early in the morning, the night is fading into the incoming sunlight in zhangira they say, the sun is battling the night darkness sometimes associated with the kingdomers .... whatever that is. Its 16 yrs later and the mysterious found boy was named Rye Cheizhaite. The rooster crows ,now he gets up, prepares himself sluggishly to go to school. Yendo was already awake and prepared and ready to go.
"Hey Rye, your lemon tea will get cold!" she tells Rye just as a knock is heard at the door.
"I'll get it, and please drink that tea."
Yendo says heading towards the door. Pointing at the cup at the tablewith her index finger..
"Hi, aa, is Rye still here?"
"Ooh, hi, Jomo, actually, that guy is slacking off in his room , let me get him for you just wait here."
.
"Rye, you are needed here, Jomo is ready to go to school and here you are expecting me to plead you to take your tea, hurry up! Ala!"
"Just a minute, ok? I'm tightening somethings here for the safety of many generations to come!"
"O-and what is that you underwear?"
Yendo cut in her face in a lowbrow mode.
"A-ha-ha dzi he he he, Jomo's laugh was loud and filled the whole house waking Vulpes and Lopus who were sleeping.
"Hey kids what is that horrible sound coming from the livingroom?" Lopus asked.
"Nothing, it's just me laughing." Rye said trying to avoid more questions.
"man, don't tell me you spent the whole night making your thingies."
"Nah, I made them till one a.m then slept at three; besides we need them, don't you agree?"
Both Jomo and Yendo dropping their heads slightly. "Huh?" they both said.
"Oh, come on guys, hey Yendo, today no crying and fainting like some scared children, you are older than me so you need to protect me instead."
Rye said with a grin on his face.
"AS IF" Yendo scoffs.
"Hey, guys we're getting late, we will come across the upside down guy. " Jomo says again this time looking anxious.
"Hey, relax you got me - I will not worry.
Come on let's go" Rye says pulling Jomo on their shoulders.
Swaizler academy - mixed international
School
Lectchaver School - Girl School
Also international
The three of them walk to school which is just beyond the forest. Jomo and Rye attend to Swaizleva academy and Yendo attends to lectchover school which is a girl school which is just a stone throw from Swaizleva mixed, no, in fact they share the same perimeter wall.
The three of them walk to school which is just beyond the forest. Jomo and Rye attend to Swaizler academy and Yendo attends to lectchover school which is a girl school which is just a stone throw from Swaizler mixed, no, in fact they share the same perimeter wall.
"And Rye you better make sure he doesn't find out you are back at your craft again, he said he would burn your stuff to ashes."
"Yeah, yeah, I know but I know my fav sis won't snitch on me or let him menace my things wouldn't she ." Rye says pulling Yendo towards his shoulder.
"Hmf don't start your mushy talk here. Of course I wouldn't let my little brother be caught, but remember only that I would cover for you, if you are caught with girls in the house, not my problem!" Yendo says adjusting her glasses.
Now hurry up, we've got to pick Dorco. She's probably waiting for us at her gate." Yendo says as she hastens her pace.
Now Jomo who was all this time silent because he was being alert for any hijinks or the upside down guy jokingly scoffed.
"That fat magui? Man she can't run and we are passing through a danger zone!"
"Ha! Ha, ha!" Rye burst into laughter.
"What did you say?" Yendo hissed adjusting her glasses, again.
"Hey Rye, remember yesterday when she screamed 'I mama! help me! I am too chubby and beautiful to die!'" Jomo said trying to mimic her voice.
"She isn't that fat-"
"Then how fat is she?
Page 15 (from new set: Image containing "Well, I am not saying she is not fat...")
"Well, I am not saying she is not fat, b-b-"
"She is... you know... not -that- fat -"
Yendo tries defending Dorco leaving them looking at her with confused faces.
"Well, what I'm saying is please respect her."
She added.
"Yeah says one who fainted and didn't carry her!" Jomo
"Oh! Man up would you, I'm sure Rye carried her anyway." Yendo says looking at Rye who looks at the trees forcing himself to whistle.
"I carried her!" Jomo says.
"Aw, poor soul!" Yendo says patting his shoulder shaking her head.
"Anyways what happened?"
Flashback
"I don't trust you with my sister,"
Rye takes off with his sister leaving the helpless Dorco to Jomo .
"Well....! Rye!...Rye....! You are just gonna leaving this to me? man she needs at least people to lift her! Rye!"
End of flashback ."
"Well, we are here" Rye
"O, yes" Yendo
"Hello guys -Rye" Dorco says sharply staring at Rye dead in the eye.
"Ah, yes - hello Dorco - ?" Dorco cuts him short.
"Did you bring the marchendise?" She asked
"How could I forget? I spent the whole night making it and it all in the byaag(Bag) ."
"Good!" Shall we go then?
"Now Yendo and Jomo who were left oblivious to Ryes & DORCOs deals and stuff then suddenly said "Ah, yes, let's get going people .
The four of them walk through the forest Chatting and laughing.
"Man my back still hurts, ouch." Jomo says as he tries to align his back.
"Iza bro." Rye taps on Jomo's shoulder trying holding in his laughter.
"Hey Yendo can I come and work at your restaurant?" Dorco asks yendo tapping her shoulder.
"Yeah sure, but why ? are you tired of your glam life?"
"Oh My Zu ! She needs to start dieting and hit the gym first!" Jomo cut in.
They all laugh.
"Yeah, sure, but sometimes when I'm just sitting there eating and doing nothing and asking for money,I feel like I am being a burden to my parents, sometimes I feel like I am not needed any more, and besides that glam life needs money too you know!"
Now the road that the kids were using to go to school was through the forest which separates two clans who were rivaling using witchcraft and ambush. They even caught pedestrians who were passing through the forest and used them as sacrifices and ate them eventually. Yeah, I know you are going to ask how come the government hasn't intervened.
You see , they are hostile communities which are still stuck to their past, and ancestral rivalry and grudges . The CGZ that tried to meditate the issue but instead Some of them were killed by the hostile fellows. Yeah ,Serves them right.
The names of these Clans ?The wambaka and the Siwaki tribe
"Mama's chuckle." and "Yeah, glam meets the moshi...")
Mama's chuckle.
I cry so hard I'm mad.
"Yeah, glam meets the moshi, man you would come out of work smelling like bbq." Jomo.
They laugh.
"Jomo stop it!" Yendo said laughing.
"Ok ok I'll be shut for a while." Jomo says
"Rye why are you so quiet?"
" Nhh?Nah, I'm just feeling some unpleasant smell of mischief and murder intent lurking from the trees." Rye said shrugging his shoulders thinking maybe he was probably tired from staying up the whole night
"Gasp!!!!!!"Could it be the-"
Before Dorco could finish they all froze their hair risen from fear of the Upside-DownMan.
Now Dorco was near a mugumo tree, and Yendo was close to her brother, at his back, Jomo as well near Rye. All of them looking around.
"G-gu-guys..." she whispered trembling.
"Quiet you, we are kinda busy you know!" Yendo whispered back trembling holding on to her brother's blazer."
"I can feel a hot breath on the back of my thighs guys... guys!" Said the petrified Dorco.
They all looked at her direction.
Dorco adjusted her bag which brushed something fleshy behind her. As soon as they fixed their eyes on her , who just finished adjusting her bag, their eyes got wider with shock. The wind howled.
" D-Dont t-t-tell me it's him behind me!"
Dorco said as she turned her head hesitantly.She saw a shadowy figure which looked like a man in an upsside down pose .
Yendo went behind Rye and Jomo too.
Dorco saw a twitching nose at her socks.
The twitching nose stopped, the shadow opened his eyes and grinned simultaneously making his presence shocking... to Dorco that is.
THUD!!!
Dorco fainted.
"The Upside down man!" They all scream
"Oh, no not again... whose gonna carry her?"
"Dammit! It's gonna be a long way, "Rye reached for his bag and took out a small aerospray and sprayed the in air around them and on themselves.
"Really Rye? You brought your Axe with you?" Yendo whispered who looked a little agitated now.
"O, relax sissy! This spray neutralises our scents. From soaps and lotions so he can't find us easily while we are running and besides you reek of that expensive lotion making my sweet invention useless." Rye whispered back.
"Guys lets hide first behind the bushes and think of an escape strategy !!" Rye shouted.
"Yeah !And Let's get this bombacious bazangous guy! Rye!" Jomo said
"What did you say?" Both Rye & Yendo asked rising their eyebrows.
They hide behind the bushes
"Boy, it's your unimaginable and outrageous brain rot girl hitting words again! And besides it has never worked on any girl" Rye said .they all laugh "man today is not my day!" Jomo said laughing holding his head.
"You are the one who started it on dorco now its on you cant escape from fate"yendo said.
"says her lawyer !" jomo cracked.
. "Shhh!!! Guys keep it down or shush your beaks we gonna get caught ,One mistake and you will end up being his food!" Rye hissed.
Growlllll !!!
A growl comes from the bushes , yendo looks at the direction of the sound.
"Ahhhhhh! Guys I see glowing eyes from that bushes.!" Yendo whispered holding her breath.
Rye:wow, thats really impressive, screaming in whisper , thats a record 👏!!
Yendo knocks rye .
YENDO:Its not like i wanted to !Did you even hear what i said ?
RYE: OUCH! Dammit that stings !And nope i heard you scream in whisper and my instincts kicked in ! Any word after the scream didn't hear it.....
YENDO:Never mind .. i think it was just a rock shining with the moonlight,
Jomo who was all this time rubbing his head came up with an idea . He picks a rock throws thinks for a bit then nods to himself then throws the rock towards the opposite direction the man stood trying to smell the scents of the kids ,
KLACK !!
It hits a tree the man runs towards the direction of the sound and my god the running style of the guy was so rubbish making Jomo almost laugh .He dashes towards DORCO.
Jomo picks her and put her on his shoulder .
MEANWHILE....
YENDO:(sniff ,sniff) Agh !!Rye now look i smell horrible!!what did you even put in that axe spray of yours ?
RYE:(Nonchalantly)Just some few and cheaper ingredients ...
YENDO:(Cuts him short ) what _did_ you put_ in _the_ spray
Jomo:Guys! ( He pushes them apart , the Upside-Down Man who was in mid air zooming towards the two trying to pin them down.)
THUD!!!
The upside down man hits the ground hard. He groans .(Eiaaarghhh!!!)
RYE : Thanks man !! We owe you !
Jomo : come on ! I cant watch your ahh always,we are at a death ground!
(IiiiiiiiiAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) Yendo screams
And Yendo could you shut up !!
YENDO : zuuzu ! I cant keep quiet while a completely bum booty naked middle aged old man chases a young girl first thing early in the morning ,i gotta freak out!
RYE: You are two years older than us !
YENDO: (screams)That doesn't change a thing !
BOTH RYE AND JOMO: Yes it does !!
RYE :Damn ! I think my invisibility masking spray is not working !!! It must have been the special ingredient , i think i didn't add enough of it .... (says rubbing his chin )
JOMO :Hey smart pants ,shut it ! We cant run with your yapping .
RYE :LOOK at who's talking,.... Come think of it , Yendo ,you have not fainted today....
YENDO : (Gasping)Is that so ?( Hufff , hufff , pfwaaaa )
THUD!!!
JOMO:Gyaaa !! She fainted! Rye you zuzu ! Why did you have to remind her ?
RYE: My zu ! I didn't know she will pass out!!(stops looks at the on coming Upside-Down Man and my God ,that guy was zooming towards them in terrifying speed . He quickly picks his sister up and puts her on his shoulder shaking and starts running again following Jomo who was way ahead of them he feels like screaming but boy he cant because he is out of breath from running and carrying the unconscious sister on his shoulder
He pants
JOMO: (Looking back)Hurry man !
RYE runs and matches Jomo's pace
RYE:HOW can you run so fast with the fat magui on your back!?
JOMO: I dont know ,but i think the more we keep carrying these ladies and running with them every morning is gonna make us complete CHADS !!(PANTS)
RYE: Nah !! I wanna have a GIGACHAD physique.
JOMO:SHIIIIIII , LETS GO FOR IT BROTHER!!!
Both JOMO AND RYE: (TURNING TOWARDS THE ONCOMING MAN GLIDING ON THE DRY LEAVES WITH THE TWO LADIES ON THEIR BACKS)But first,lets take care of this bazangous guy !!!
THEY BOTH GRIN
TO BE CONTINUED....
Chapter 2
The Double encounter