THE SHORELINE PROPHECY

GHANALAND : In the tumtum tribe.

Assey clutched his wrist, his eyes narrowing at the calabash displaying uncle James' house. The sight of Anaya stirred a familiar rage within him. Her mere existence was an insult to everything he has built.

With a hiss, he kitched the calabash and all it's contents spilled away. His patience thining.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Jhuni entered, bowing before delivering the message.

"Master, the seer of our tribe says that the force behind your daughter is very powerful. Love is her weakness, until she falls in love, you will not be able to touch her. She is an anointed one, the one bound to end our tribe."

Assey scoffed, flexing his fingers. "That's the same thing that old man I killed told me." His voice dropped with mockery. "Tell the seer that I, Assey, will not bow to a little girl, nor the force behind her!"

Jhuni hesitated. "Master…. There's more."

Assey's patience snapped. "Speak Jhuni!"

Juni swallowed hard. "Until the prophecy day comes, you will experience every emotions of Ruth in a fold , especially pain."Assey frowned, his grip tightening. "what nonsense is This?"

Then it happened.

A sharp sting spread through his wrist. Not unbearable, but persistent like a needle pricking his skin repeatedly. He Clenched his jaw, rolling his fingers as if to shake of the sensation. It was nothing. A mere irritation. Jhuni studied him carefully. Assey exhaled slowly, his lips curling. "A minor inconvenience. Nothing more."

Jhuni nodded and bowed before leaving. Just then, Assey's phone rang , snapping him from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen before answering.

A voice from the other side came. "Hello, Uncle…. please leave me alone!" Ruth's voice was trembling, laced with pain. "My head… it hurts. It's unbearable! Why won't you just leave me alone?" She sobbed desperately.

Assey's grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. "I see you're trying to resist me now, Ruth," he said, his deep, hoarse voice laced with warning. "But don't even think about it. You know the consequences."

Ruth whimpers, her breathing ragged.

"Be good, and the pain will stop," he continued coldly. Then, without another word, he hung up.

Back on Barbados, Ruth gasped for air, her vision darkening. She clutched her head, fighting to regain control, but it was useless. A wave of dizziness crashed over her, and with a final shudder, darkness enveloped her.

At least she was happy that with the help of the holy water, she could tap into her own mind, But that also had it's consequences.