Five years ago616Please respect copyright.PENANA7S8SwSXjFg
Mpunde Girls Secondary School616Please respect copyright.PENANAOTS6aGLYQl
The Poultry616Please respect copyright.PENANAZVGlI01fVt
616Please respect copyright.PENANAXS9Faiy21j
I screamed. And the next thing I knew, I landed chest first onto what felt like a hard cold floor. My chest and ribs ached painfully. I slowly rolled over on the floor so as to lie on my back. I took a knock in my knees too. The pain all over was unbearable.616Please respect copyright.PENANAeGRQP4YArK
616Please respect copyright.PENANAsGyWTmuUpz
I looked above and saw the hole that I fell in. I saw the gaping space and a few rays of sunlight coming in. A few puffs of sawdust fell onto my face. I coughed as I rubbed my face to wipe them off. I had to get up. It felt like I hadn't fallen far. I could make it if nothing in me was broken, especially my legs.616Please respect copyright.PENANAropzPpWfDm
616Please respect copyright.PENANAqmLBuBVtVw
I sat up slowly. How could the poultry have a hole on the floor? How come I hadn't noticed it the first time?616Please respect copyright.PENANAdWkGUnUYak
616Please respect copyright.PENANAYAmQL3vnYH
I held my aching left shoulder as I looked up. Coming to the poultry looking for the ball was a bad idea. It was all thanks to Christine and Amanda that all this was happening to me.616Please respect copyright.PENANAMG4YkSm2H7
616Please respect copyright.PENANAovvILwXOuh
I stood on my own two feet and straightened up. I didn't feel any bones broken or dislocated. But that was yet to be known.616Please respect copyright.PENANAySLavVRg4T
616Please respect copyright.PENANApu6WgedMUX
I looked up at the hole and just as I expected, the distance wasn't massive. I could easily jump and hold on to the edges to pull myself out.616Please respect copyright.PENANAqmq2J1eikQ
616Please respect copyright.PENANANunerYkSfK
My body still ached and I had to prepare myself if I was going to make the jump. But just before I could, I heard a weird noise behind me.616Please respect copyright.PENANAUhlPUYS2gr
616Please respect copyright.PENANAVG8V07hF27
I quickly turned around and realised that I hadn't taken the time to look around to see where I was. In front of me stood complete darkness. I was in some kind of room because of the visible stone black walls to my sides and the one behind me. As much as I looked, I couldn't see anything.616Please respect copyright.PENANAqLCyLPUIpL
616Please respect copyright.PENANA0um7GteyY6
I shrugged my shoulders as I came to the conclusion that what I probably heard was nothing. There was no need to start chasing after something in the dark when you have no idea what's there. What I learnt in horror movies: don't go chasing after things you know nothing about. It just gets you killed.616Please respect copyright.PENANAyz8hDik4oV
616Please respect copyright.PENANAw3yZsopngR
I turned back to look at the hole and just as I steadied my body to jump, I heard the noise again and along with it came a whisper:616Please respect copyright.PENANAp9bPxhPj4Y
616Please respect copyright.PENANAGVPWqbNOiO
"Diana."616Please respect copyright.PENANATS7OWL4ICG
616Please respect copyright.PENANAtkP6BCN2Xs
I grew spooked. What was that? I turned my head again. Was someone out there? As much as I wanted to call out, I didn't want to. Another thing I learnt in horror movies: don't answer to what calls you out in the dark. It might just come get you for real.616Please respect copyright.PENANAqkdNCfBE2n
616Please respect copyright.PENANAMPoYIxlMf4
I continued to look and this time, crazy images appeared in my head. What if there's some monster that lived down here and it knew my name? I assume that most weird supernaturals had a tendency of knowing their victims' names, almost like they were psychic or something. No, no, no. There's nothing out there. I am just imagining things.616Please respect copyright.PENANANoIrBMIzxi
616Please respect copyright.PENANAeI0EWQ6O2l
"Diana, Diana!"616Please respect copyright.PENANAZgWexQqnCB
616Please respect copyright.PENANAgYa6kGksmB
I gulped as I felt my insides shake. Okay, this was no joke. There's definitely somebody out there.616Please respect copyright.PENANA398uQqvclv
616Please respect copyright.PENANAvDDDdNuago
Just as I turned back to look at the hole, something unexpected started to happen. It was fixing itself up.616Please respect copyright.PENANAtFDeeQXpCV
616Please respect copyright.PENANAK9n9XLJmjo
"No, no, no!" I exclaimed as I made a jump for it.616Please respect copyright.PENANA1pmLjHYWpC
616Please respect copyright.PENANAic7ZkkgH7L
It was no use. As much as I tried over and over, I still couldn't reach the edges as the hole grew smaller and smaller. My heart started to beat even faster when the concrete hole finally sealed itself and I was surrounded by darkness.616Please respect copyright.PENANAbtZG0JICqx
616Please respect copyright.PENANAOL9fXNHRjE
"Diana," came the whisper again.616Please respect copyright.PENANAtytkXqQbye
616Please respect copyright.PENANAiLb2J3yg91
I leaned back against the wall, my heart beating even more. I wrapped my arms around myself as I shook in fright. I am one person who didn't mind being in the dark, but not like this. The place was pitch black and someone out there was calling out to me. Could this be my bitter end? Death would have a laugh at me if it ever came to be.616Please respect copyright.PENANAir1K06b2WC
616Please respect copyright.PENANATPQBw5oE3h
I sat on the floor, curled myself up with my knees below my chin, my arms still wrapped around myself. This is it, I thought. I could imagine what the headlines of the national newspapers was going to be like: Girl at Mpunde Girls gone missing..., or is she dead? That would be enough to leave my parents agitated or even terrified. What happened to their baby girl, people would ask. She got stuck under the poultry and died there, that's what.616Please respect copyright.PENANA5IY06Kwkpd
616Please respect copyright.PENANAZYCzXtIEWZ
"Diana!" came the whisper again.616Please respect copyright.PENANAkYzysbdELV
616Please respect copyright.PENANAd7GhuGgUe9
My heart skipped a beat as I turned to my left. Someone had just whispered in my ear. And the creepy part was that I hadn't felt anyone's presence nor did I hear any footsteps. Was I talking to a ghost?616Please respect copyright.PENANAhCPJpncaXg
616Please respect copyright.PENANAX2iNuNuS2V
"Who are you?" I asked this time around. I couldn't keep quiet any longer.616Please respect copyright.PENANAIuBiDXAV2J
616Please respect copyright.PENANAuzzXMTTvHv
"I've been waiting for you, Diana," came the the voice again, but still in a whisper.616Please respect copyright.PENANAS0GqtC6VL2
616Please respect copyright.PENANAZsYDMoBTc9
A bright purple light suddenly appeared in front of my eyes. I shrieked. I stood up and I noticed that the ball of light was on my nose. I shrieked again as I tried to swat it away, but everytime I did, it would float right back like an annoying insect.616Please respect copyright.PENANAlEY28wxDIx
616Please respect copyright.PENANAouaQjTUGi6
I stopped fighting with the little thing and my eyes focused on it. The purple ball of light was nothing more but a glowing purple butterfly. I could hardly feel it on my nose except the warmth it brought onto the small area of my nose.616Please respect copyright.PENANABFSSVP20A5
616Please respect copyright.PENANARu9bhPqg9E
I continued looking at it and admired how beautiful it looked. I had never seen a glowing butterfly before. All this felt unreal. Was I dreaming?616Please respect copyright.PENANAEdHSCCpjir
616Please respect copyright.PENANAXpFV9bHpjV
I brought my finger up to my nose and as if the butterfly knew what to do, it went on it. For some reason, I smiled. I wasn't afraid anymore and I definitely wasn't dreaming.616Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mx33hajAS
616Please respect copyright.PENANAv2KqOg5GN8
The butterfly fluttered its purple wings and took to the air. It hovered a few inches above me before it started to flutter away in the darkness.616Please respect copyright.PENANA0c9EGelZKD
616Please respect copyright.PENANA9F89jxEfET
"Wait, hold up," I called out to it.616Please respect copyright.PENANAbHoSJIFtMy
616Please respect copyright.PENANAFVpO37dHpo
I followed it in the dark. I had no idea where I was going. All I did know was that I had to follow it.616Please respect copyright.PENANAbumx7mBDeh
616Please respect copyright.PENANAqgoarOpJwN
I noticed that I was walking down a long dark hallway. The butterfly's glowing light hit the black coloured walls on the sides. The place was still pitch black and I grew anxious with each step that I took.616Please respect copyright.PENANAVQ2LhTbw9M
616Please respect copyright.PENANAhdT0FcLWWS
After a few minutes of walking, I reached a doorway. I was afraid to go beyond. What if all this was a trap and I was going to find myself falling again and this time, into a deeper hole?616Please respect copyright.PENANA160QRQxgbl
616Please respect copyright.PENANAt2T2yxbpQr
The butterfly still fluttered its wings beside me, then it went right through the doorway. This time, its glowing light not hitting the walls or even the floor. That made me guess that in front of me stood a vast room of space with no walls or floor within close range.616Please respect copyright.PENANAoYwmCchvsv
616Please respect copyright.PENANAnEdwwAcqi3
As the butterfly continued to flutter away, the whisper came again:616Please respect copyright.PENANAwpEG87USRd
616Please respect copyright.PENANAEWIxRSw37u
"Come, Diana."616Please respect copyright.PENANAEETUZCuk23
616Please respect copyright.PENANAmaTV8tmcKr
I looked below to see if there was any stairway or sight of a floor. I still couldn't see anything.616Please respect copyright.PENANAsRq99TkZnd
616Please respect copyright.PENANACrddCStvNB
"Umm, no thanks," I said. "It's pretty dark."616Please respect copyright.PENANAYnhyahad0B
616Please respect copyright.PENANAuAPXYDOpIG
"Come. Nothing will happen to you."616Please respect copyright.PENANA7WhiP0tUvd
616Please respect copyright.PENANAjwtac6Dw4M
I raised an eyebrow. "I love my life, mind you."616Please respect copyright.PENANAP7lJEODHPF
616Please respect copyright.PENANAbz2iuspYDL
"Take a step forward, do not be afraid."616Please respect copyright.PENANABRe8wpOpro
616Please respect copyright.PENANAfqgvxJhaO7
I thought of the last four words: "Do not be afraid." It reminded me of a bible passage we read last Sunday when Peter tried to walk on water and he grew scared that Jesus had to help him. Jesus told him to take courage and not to be afraid. Was this the same scenario I was facing; like a test?616Please respect copyright.PENANAJCbqhOOhy9
616Please respect copyright.PENANA7IqisV3Ats
"Step forward," came the voice again. "I promise that nothing is going to happen to you."616Please respect copyright.PENANAfbYd6ADozs
616Please respect copyright.PENANAKudH1JShgO
I gulped as I looked at the dark emptiness where there was supposed to be a floor. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. If I was to plunge to my death, I would rather have my eyes closed.616Please respect copyright.PENANAo8JE8VEcMY
616Please respect copyright.PENANAzrO0E5AwSm
I breathed out and took a step forward very slowly. And just as I had expected, I didn't feel the floor and my heart skipped a beat, but very quickly, my foot stepped on something solid. Was it a floor?616Please respect copyright.PENANATzZzFCVX1w
616Please respect copyright.PENANAZLLzwBpklK
Feeling relieved that I wasn't going to fall after all, I put my feet together and opened my eyes. What I saw beneath me, made my eyes widen with wonder.616Please respect copyright.PENANAWaIBexUPYH
616Please respect copyright.PENANACZiU6HhKDq
I had stepped on a floor tile and I noticed that it was no ordinary one. It was made of glowing green butterflies.616Please respect copyright.PENANASYRXud8SRX
616Please respect copyright.PENANACjDFNEdosC
I couldn't help but stare. Soon, I slowly took another step forward. Immediately, another glowing tile appeared. This time made up of glowing yellow butterflies. Without fear, I took another step forward and a blue one appeared. Afterwards came red, purple, orange butterfly tiles. The six colours repeated themselves in different sequences so it was hard to tell which colour came next.616Please respect copyright.PENANAMjchhe2M3l
616Please respect copyright.PENANA6OAsUHGkyZ
I was enjoying this. I had never seen anything like it before. I slowed down for a bit to take a look around. The place was still dark except for the glowing tiles I had walked on.616Please respect copyright.PENANAKsNcapaCLy
616Please respect copyright.PENANAhXiDb8Ko0E
I went on to look ahead and I stopped walking abruptly. I thought I was about to run into something when in fact it was just the purple butterfly. I sighed in relief.616Please respect copyright.PENANAYf19lVVhdT
616Please respect copyright.PENANAoSwnxc7jT6
The butterfly kept fluttering its wings and it came close that it landed on my nose again. My nose started to itch like I wanted to sneeze. I wiggled my nose to prevent myself from doing so, but I couldn't help it.616Please respect copyright.PENANAtSWJID08c8
616Please respect copyright.PENANA2fX48i7Zz4
"ACHOO!"616Please respect copyright.PENANAo0WUCWXS3e
616Please respect copyright.PENANAcf88kJu17U
"Bless me," I said to myself and when I opened my eyes, the butterflies of all the six colours: red, blue, green, orange, yellow and purple, filled up the place around me.616Please respect copyright.PENANAxQfJamaZg4
616Please respect copyright.PENANABnDWc6BK2a
I looked around in amazement as they flew around. With their glowing light, I could see six tall stone pillars in front of me, three on each side. They went all the way upwards. I looked further up and there was no ceiling, just never-ending darkness. I looked forward and in between the pillars was a stone aisle. At the far end of the room, I made out a giant stone statue of a butterfly.616Please respect copyright.PENANABmMgwV98ex
616Please respect copyright.PENANAE96oXjXwga
I continued to look around as the butterflies made the scene around me look like I was flying in the dark night sky and they were glowing stars. Most of the butterflies settled on the six pillars bringing in more light into the room. This reminded me of the way people in the Western world would decorate their houses with bright lights for Christmas.616Please respect copyright.PENANAz5QoVKh1So
616Please respect copyright.PENANANbRgwncaZs
I spun around as a few butterflies also did so around me. I chuckled. I looked over to my left shoulder and a purple butterfly sat there. It must have been the same butterfly that led me all the way to this point.616Please respect copyright.PENANAZWcGgPBjwM
616Please respect copyright.PENANASzXJXBAZtg
"They're beautiful, aren't they?"616Please respect copyright.PENANAQtrVfJhFBy
616Please respect copyright.PENANAomJNJQ6kWT
I quickly turned towards the large butterfly statue and there stood a person in a blue robe and pointed hood. All the excitement left me as I tried to make out a face, but the hood covered the person's face all too well that I couldn't make out anything. I had a strange feeling like I knew who it was.616Please respect copyright.PENANAjJjq1nx1S8
616Please respect copyright.PENANAy4GsENxruW
"Who are you?" I asked.616Please respect copyright.PENANAgLgU0LwUyi
616Please respect copyright.PENANAbF44Q9hl9q
The woman gave out a little chuckle. "Have you already forgotten me, Diana?" she asked.616Please respect copyright.PENANALYOtlDhWSD
616Please respect copyright.PENANAbyG3C18z3e
Then everything came back to me in a flash. She was the woman I met in my dreams three days ago. She wore a black robe back then and she gave me the note with the symbol of a butterfly in a circle, divided into four parts.616Please respect copyright.PENANAXgPP1cSJ7p
616Please respect copyright.PENANAn8jcT8kMTH
"You're the woman whom I met in my dream," I answered as I found myself slowly approaching her.616Please respect copyright.PENANAO8QsAiQZfo
616Please respect copyright.PENANAICvz3rudE7
"Indeed, I am," she said.616Please respect copyright.PENANAPl8hCeszir
616Please respect copyright.PENANA8I1E5IaK0i
I stopped walking. "You never told me your name."616Please respect copyright.PENANAmMzVVg9H3x
616Please respect copyright.PENANAISkv7u01Rn
"Of course, I didn't," she said as she came towards me.616Please respect copyright.PENANAsPJ50FqPxZ
616Please respect copyright.PENANAx58VMBVNTz
"What's your name, if you don't mind me asking."616Please respect copyright.PENANAkNLBngei8r
616Please respect copyright.PENANAMlFHj1hxJO
The distance between us shortened. She stopped walking. A few blue butterflies fluttered around her. She lifted her black gloved hands, held the hem of her hood and pulled it back.616Please respect copyright.PENANAkfHMXgi8RL
616Please respect copyright.PENANAYes6x8NbCs
Her long thick black hair reached beyond her shoulders. She had a smooth round face and her light brown skin shone brightly under the lights of the butterflies around her. She had soft brown eyes and her pink lips were raised up into a smile. She looked pretty, to be honest. Way prettier than any woman I had ever met so far.616Please respect copyright.PENANAA6AkEc3LOm
616Please respect copyright.PENANAx5xFYpKxKM
"I'm Stella," she answered. "It's about time you found me, Diana."616Please respect copyright.PENANA4Py778AwHo
616Please respect copyright.PENANADGdUbiUNTu
"Uh...," I snapped out of my trance as I shook my head. "To be honest, I did try to find the symbol. I unfortunately found it in a place I least expected. And it only took me three days."616Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1wwsjmXFT
616Please respect copyright.PENANAB2gNvmAt6Y
"We have all been waiting for you."616Please respect copyright.PENANAZCK9My2IST
616Please respect copyright.PENANAc8F2Q36ghL
"What do you mean 'we?' I thought I was only meeting you."616Please respect copyright.PENANAa6M1YZ8pxL
616Please respect copyright.PENANAYV1I8LfVjI
"I was only just the messenger. Others have been waiting for your arrival."616Please respect copyright.PENANAOqLo5QNMT6
616Please respect copyright.PENANAjNXzaViUyZ
"Who?" I asked.616Please respect copyright.PENANAMTPK9MaFQI
616Please respect copyright.PENANAvRnZfjAxiJ
My question was soon answered when three people appeared from behind the pillars to my left and two more appeared from behind the pillars to my right.616Please respect copyright.PENANArLLBg98WKi
616Please respect copyright.PENANAowXG9mX5yp
They all wore robes and hoods over their heads that covered their faces too well. I noticed that each one wore a robe and hood of a different colour. Those who wore red, green and orange came from the left. The two who wore purple and yellow, came from the right. They came to stand alongside Stella with a few butterflies that matched the colour of their robes fluttering around them. They didn't withdraw their hoods.616Please respect copyright.PENANAJLQdZ4DCU3
616Please respect copyright.PENANA1gIL1za5pd
"Welcome, Diana," spoke the man in a green robe. "We have been expecting you."616Please respect copyright.PENANAaQsfGz0N4B
616Please respect copyright.PENANANZLthNsgph
"Well, I hope its not too late," I said as I remembered what Stella told me in my dream.616Please respect copyright.PENANAeZTemXJ7L4
616Please respect copyright.PENANAjImTNR6V05
"Don't worry," said the woman in a magnificent red robe. She removed her hood. She had magnificent jet black hair. Her eyes and her face confirmed her to be Asian, but with a stern face. She smiled at me, though. "You came just in time."616Please respect copyright.PENANAaaKuKwoHA1
616Please respect copyright.PENANAtFrmCr8wih
"I don't really know what I am doing here, really," I said. "All of this is really confusing."616Please respect copyright.PENANAWlXtiG9FmK
616Please respect copyright.PENANA155B4sYYhC
"It won't be when you finally realise your true purpose," said the man in the green robe.616Please respect copyright.PENANA9L0x8wSPOU
616Please respect copyright.PENANAwGqAzS0VNI
"And what is that?" I asked.616Please respect copyright.PENANA6vsP7GpvRN
616Please respect copyright.PENANAy3HzGRdOPz
"You will know after your training," said the Asian woman.616Please respect copyright.PENANAtBhhzokFeR
616Please respect copyright.PENANAua4ghoFB4O
"My training?" I felt confused. I had training to do? "What kind of training?"616Please respect copyright.PENANASYtUe8LqdE
616Please respect copyright.PENANA93jZieHtyl
"You will know soon enough," said Stella, as she smiled. "Come. There's a lot you need to know and you need to return before anyone notices you're gone."616Please respect copyright.PENANASoh7HPITJm
616Please respect copyright.PENANACl7K9a3FJ5
Stella turned around and went back the way she came, towards the butterfly statue. The other five did the same. I stood there for a moment before following them.616Please respect copyright.PENANAYAidr1wAg4
616Please respect copyright.PENANAdbfX8zULcD
They stopped in front of the butterfly statue and it was then that I noticed that there was a huge stone circle around it with horizontal and vertical metal beams that divided it into four parts just like the drawing and the carving I found back at the poultry.616Please respect copyright.PENANAnV65GWdDhQ
616Please respect copyright.PENANAt1XtWZKQJr
"Where are we going?" I asked. I looked around and it looked like there was no other way out of the room except from the doorway I had come in from.616Please respect copyright.PENANARBzLB1ms6k
616Please respect copyright.PENANA2ag3NGBbnK
"You ask a lot of questions," came the voice of a woman in the orange robe.616Please respect copyright.PENANAihfnzh72Oh
616Please respect copyright.PENANAWAbDSsJykh
"That will be good for her," said the man in a green robe. "But too much of it is rather annoying."616Please respect copyright.PENANAQiqMSka0SE
616Please respect copyright.PENANAdYYghlwYTG
I put it in mind not to ask too many questions, especially with the man in green and the woman in orange. Probably even the Asian woman too.616Please respect copyright.PENANAlxZBon8tMz
616Please respect copyright.PENANA5dcthrkMTS
I felt the floor beneath me shake. Was that an earthquake? I tried not to panic as the others didn't seem fazed by it.616Please respect copyright.PENANAwNElUX3D22
616Please respect copyright.PENANAeAmO55L44n
The next thing I knew, the statue of the butterfly in front of us started to glow. The light was so bright that for a moment, I lifted my hand to shield my eyes. I looked over at my shoulder and the purple butterfly was still there, like it never wanted to leave.616Please respect copyright.PENANARuU5ghxRKF
616Please respect copyright.PENANAxcVGyYgthu
The brightness filled up the whole room and the next thing I knew, the light disappeared. And when I fully opened my eyes, I was in a whole different place.616Please respect copyright.PENANAiEDWZUF0ma
616Please respect copyright.PENANA57BGpVvx69
"Welcome to our world, Diana," said Stella as she stood right beside me. "Someone very important has been dying to meet you."