Chapter Six: The Banishment
“What’s wrong? What are you people doing in my home?” Dad asked as the troop of guards from the werewolf council badged into our home but before the question could get to them, they grabbed him and mum as one of the guards approached me. I moved aback still in dismay to what was going on as they grabbed me from behind as they took us out. We met a crowd gathered just outside as well as the werewolf council members.
“What’s going on?” I asked but no one seemed to listen. Just then, I turned and saw Raymond in the midst of the crowd. He seemed to be leading them which piqued every curiosity in me.
“Raymond? What is all this about? Why did you bring us all out here?”
“I warned you, Clara, didn’t I?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You bring us out here under the sun in the midst of the people, what is this all about?”
“Don’t worry you’ll soon know why you are out here.”
He pulled away from me as he faced the ground.
“Don’t touch me!” I yelled to the guards as they pulled me down to the ground with my parents trying us up. At first it just began so unreal as if I was just in one of my nightmares but as I was harshly struck down, with the agonising pain growing every minute, I knew just yet that it was my reality, our reality.
“This family here had been once a respected family for decades but just last night we got the shocking news that Caleb, one of the betas of this pack, was found dead. And after further investigations we found a familiar scent and prints that belonged to Mr Malthus.”
“What? Dad?” I gasped turning to face my father who also had a look of surprise written all over his face.
“That’s outrageous, my father was home all day yesterday. How could he have killed Caleb?”
“You have no right to speak as your family has done an unforgivable act!” Raymond spoke and just then, it all came to me, the threats and the looks Raymond had all along it occurred to me what he had done.
“Raymond…”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“As the rules demand, we would let the pack alpha place a judgement on what would be done to this abominable family.”
The crowd went silent as everyone was keen to hear what decision Raymond had set for us. I knew that whatever it was, it wasn’t good for us.“
“For what Mr Malthus has done, killing one of our own, he and his entire family would be furnished from this town never to return. Any day they are seen around disobeying these orders they would be killed. That’s my judgement.”
“Raymond, no that can’t happen. You can’t do that to us. First you betrayed me, took my house, now you are banishing us from the only town that we know.”
“Clara,” he held my chin, “this is not about you.”
“You know quite well that this is. Why do you drag my family into this? This was just between the two of us.”
“Oh you knew that all along and you still sent ahead to drag me to a fruitless meeting to humiliate me right? Well how is that working for you?”
“This isn’t fair, Raymond.”
Tears rolled down my cheek.
“I warned you Clara, didn’t I? But once again you proved stubborn. Like I said, you should never have dared call that meeting yesterday because you all dug your grave when you did.”
“Raymond, why hurt my family so much? When all we have shown you is love and affection?”
“This town would be more peaceful with you killers out of here. What are you guys waiting for?! Take them out of here or kill them if they refuse to leave?”
“Raymond, no please. Just let my parents go.”
My words were unheard as they dragged us without even letting us take our belongings.
“Let me be!” I struggled taking their hands off me.
“Can I at least take my phone? Or some money with me?”
“You are not allowed back into the house.” One of the men said.
“But I need some money or we would starve or at least let me get my phone. We are headed into a path we aren’t familiar with. Do you want us to die?”
“That would be even much better.”
Raymond’s words struck me hard and the will to struggle left me as I let them toss me around taking through a forbidden path of the banished. Out of the border where the protection of the pack did not reach out to. Most omegas who walked alone were killed and it was like a hunting ground for different packs. As we left the protection of what was once our pack, we became like a prey for whoever decided to be our predators.
With no money, food or even clothing we left on foot walking through the oath as we headed out of town as gradually fear crawled down my throat.
As we walked down the street, through the dryness of the arid land, the thin shrivelled air rushed freely to my face, as I walked along, dry hay crunching underneath my feet. We had been walking for about two hours. My feet ached as it suddenly felt too heavy to carry my weight, my shoulders hung as though a heavy bag weighed on my left shoulder and my throat longed for moisture. I needed nothing more than to rest and have a warm meal.
“Are you okay?” Mum asked as she watched me. I nodded in affirmation. The road was dry and it felt strange that no car passed that path. I turned backwards facing the direction of where we had come from but saw no one, not even a distant truck passing by, only the bowing stems of the tall hays by the paths. And just then a rush of hot air graced my face and the heat was like that of a blacksmith furnace with a sting on my skin giving me teary eyes. Tiny brown leaves rolled across the road in the direction of the wind, a sign of a lonely and abandoned route.?
I continued the walk, on the same side that I had been walking for the last hours, something I learnt to do after the banishment.
I had learned to like the warm feel of the midday sun on the sands, burying my shoes that I got the itchy bits of sand on my skin. I watched the wind bring the dust on my footprints.
“That’s a car approaching us.” I heard the voice of my mother with excitement, finally we would be out of the road. But I did not see any of the distance. I stopped walking as I heard the engine rustle like that of a ten pound horse galloping at full speed. Maybe mother was right. I wish it was.?
Suddenly, my vision became blurry and suddenly I could not feel my legs as I crashed faced down on the hot sand passing out.