Chapter Samara
SAMARA
The sound of my twins’ laughs woke me up.
After Dio practically told me goodbye last night, I cried myself to sleep.
I was pulling myself from the bed to go into the room to check on them when the shadow of someone walking past scared me.
I reached into my drawer, grabbed the gun Dio kept by the bed, and pulled it out.
“I’m about to blow your fucking head off!” I yelled as I came out of the room.
When I saw who was standing at the end of the hall, I cocked the gun back. “Put my brother down.”
She bounced Peace up and down while cooing at his face. “I said put him down!” I shouted this time.
She stopped bouncing him as she cut her eyes at me. “Fine!”
That was when she tossed Peace, and my heart almost left my chest as I ran forward, hitting my mother with the butt of the gun. “You fucking bitch!”
She shoved me off her as she tried to get away. “Calm down, Samara.” The gentle tone of a man stopped me.
I turned to see him holding Peace. He was incredibly beautiful and angelic.
His skin was like pure chocolate, with a smooth head resembling a Milk Dud, and his eyes seemed almost otherworldly, like white.
He wore all-white garments with light gold accents draping his neck.
He gently placed Peace into his car seat while Savior stared at him just as I did.
“Who are you?” I asked.
He stood as he came around, holding his hand out for mine. “I am the Mighty One. Your mother has told me much about you, and she felt it was time to meet the beautiful being she speaks of. I must say you are a breath of fresh air. Sit?”
I didn’t move. I turned to look at my mother, who was looking down at the floor. “How did y’all get in my place? I’m calling the police.”
“Relax. We come in peace. I wanted to talk to you myself. Your mother has told me you refuse to come to Shine Your Light. Why?”
This shit had to be a dream. I never asked for much in life; all I wanted was a family who loved me, a good education, and to fall in love. Although I had all those things, I was still stuck with a delusional mother and her cult.
“I know you’re a cult, and I don’t want any parts. You have nothing to offer me. No, I don’t want to be your wife. No, I’m not wearing those fucked-up garments, and no, I’m not pure.”
He chuckled. “Shine Your Light isn’t any different than the school you go to.
We teach you things, things that’ll show you how to be a better you.
We have art classes, we put on shows for the commune, we eat well, and party our way on occasion.
The place you are in is offering you nothing but heartaches and headaches. ”
I pointed to my mother. “Look at her!” I shouted. “She’s fucked up. Why is she looking at the floor? Ma!” I called out. “I know people like you. You brainwash these women, fuck them, and drug them because it’s the only way they’ll listen to your, goofy, silly ass. Get out!”
My mother looked pathetic. It made me sad that she was so lost, and I almost wondered how she really was my mother.
“Education isn’t where it’s being taught, but who is teaching.
The excellence of being Black? How can you be excellent when you’re at a school with a bunch of young adults who know nothing of excellence?
You yourself are lost. You can’t focus on the education you're so graciously given by the people you call family because you’re chasing around a boy who is still finding himself.
You're at a school that declares to be Black and Proud when most of you know nothing of the two. You, Samara, have no business at that school or with that family because yours is right there. So, this is what I’m going to offer,” he said with a short smile.
“I have already made arrangements for you at the commune. You will come, or you won’t have to worry about Peace or Savior because their parents will need both by the time I’m done.
You are the sacrifice. So, what will it be?
” He held up his finger. “Ah, don’t answer.
Make it happen. Just as your mother told you before, we will give you until the end of the semester so that you can at least say goodbye to Dionysus.
If you think you're slick, I’m slicker. Oh, and if you send that so-called daddy of yours to find me, he won’t. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
With that, he snapped his fingers, and my mother looked up.
He walked out of the door with her right behind him.
She didn’t even bother to look at me, and that spoke volumes.
I needed to tell Chevy and Zaria because if this man thought I was choosing a cult, he was as crazy as I already believed he was.
I would die first. Now I knew this trip abroad was needed.