Lost In The Jungle - S01 E06

3 years ago

Lost In The Jungle - S01 E06

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 6

Isweli ended and thing went back to normal. My appearance in the jungle remained hidden to everyone except Aweli which Lovina doesn’t know. Were were playing and gisting when a knock sounded on the invisible door. I quickly hid where I used to and peeped from there as she opened the invisible door for Aweli. I gasped on sighting him.

‘Lovina, you’re looking beautiful today and you smile often nowadays, tell me the secret,’ Aweli said, and sat on the bench.

‘Thank you, Aweli. To what do I own this visit?’ she asked, smiling.

‘Nothing. I was just passing by and decided to say hello to you. We’ve not met since last Isweli and you stay indoor recently’

‘I’m grateful. How is the king and Ugeli?’

‘Your husband-to-be is doing well in the palace’ Aweli replied searching the room, probably for me.

‘My regards to them and tell Ugeli that I’ll visit him when sun sets’

‘I won’t forget,’ he paused for a while. ‘Lovina, can you remind me the punishment for keeping a stranger under your roof without the king’s consent?’ the question shocked her and my eyes also widened.

‘Hiding a stranger? What do you mean?’ she asked, with a choke in her voice.

‘Just answer first’ he whispered calmly.

‘De-ath’

‘So what is Jackson doing in your house without the king’s consent? A whole wife-to-be of the crown prince hiding a stranger!’

‘Please keep your voice down. I couldn’t watch him die in the hands of Uli and Ufon. Please don’t tell Ugeli’ she begged with tears forming in her hazel eyes.

‘I give you till sun set to get him out of this house else, I won’t have any other choice but to tell everything to the king’ Aweli stormed out.

I sadly came out from my hiding and knelt down beside her. I could provide a convincing answer when she asked why I didn’t tell her.

‘See what you’ve caused. If he should tell any one, they won’t hesitate to kill us,’ she yelled.

‘I’m sorry. It happened the day you went for …’

‘Enough! Jackson, what I want to hear is the way forward not history. If I release you to go, you won’t make it out of here. Uli and Ufon are roaming around seeking who to devour’

‘I caused it and I’m ready to pay for it alone. Lovina, let me leave,’ I said and she looked in dismay.

‘You are stupid, Jack. Remember what happened to you on your first day here, you were running in a circle. You can’t make it past Uli and Ufon. No sooner would they catch you than feed on you’ she said with a shaky voice.

‘Lovina, I don’t care anymore, if I die, I die’ I replied, got up and hugged her. She was crying and wanted us to face whatever would happen together but I wanted to leave her out of it and leave with a promise to come back to get her if help came. She led me out of the tree and I felt the jungle breeze hit me again. I had stayed indoor since the day she saved me. I glanced back at the mahogany tree I came out from and waved at it amidst tears. ~~phemloid story~~ I accepted my fate and sat down beside another mahogany tree that slapped me, waiting for my death or a combat between the mosters and me. I looked at Lovina’s tree again and wept.

‘Which kind of creature won’t let me sleep at this hour. Leave the front of my house now before I pounce on you,’ an unknown voice cried. I looked around and found no one. The voice repeated it again and more loudly, I traced it to the tree I sat under. I hastily got up, happy that there was someone in the tree.

An idea struck me, Lovina had told me that antelopes are rare in the forest and they can do anything for anyone that gives them. I saw a hunter’s trap which had caught two antelopes, half dead. I went for it and stood at the front of the tree.

‘I have a gift for you,’ I shouted.

‘Go away and bring it when I wake up’

‘Two big antelopes! I won’t come back with them if I should leave’

‘What!? Antelopes?’ he shouted joyfully and opened the door. He jumped up when he saw the animals with me and collected them.

‘How did you get these?’ he asked excitedly.

‘My traps caught them’

‘Oh… hunter, where are you from?’

‘Ibadan’

‘That’s very far. How did you miss your way and get here?’

‘I don’t know. I only kept running in a circle when I found myself here.’

‘I will help you home and return your kindness’ he said and I shouted for joy.

‘Really?’ he went into a small black pot filled with stream water and brought out a necklace.

The necklace had a gold colour. He gave me the necklace and told me it would help me to get out of the forest but warned me that my blood must not touch it. He afterwards took me out and I saw different paths leading out of the forest when I put the necklace on. Also, I saw that all of the trees has doors and windows and truly, Lovina’s tree was the finest after a giant shining tree which I guessed was the palace. He bade me goodbye after showing me the path to follow. I ran as fast as I could when he left.

Lovina crossed my heard suddenly and I ran back to the man’s tree. I lied to him that I wanted to wait for the Prince’s wedding which would take place in seven days. I rested my head on the bark of the tree thinking of Lovina.

I was mesmerized by her beauty and couldn’t let go of her thought. I knew I was in love with her.