200 A Terrifying Tropical Storm


    Leon and Maxwell were busy making the final preparation on a nearby ind close to Ifub.


    For the past three hours, ever since they arrived at this ind, they had been tied with back-to-back engagements. They nned to finish up their activities and return to Ifub before nightfall.


    One of the major purposes for being on the ind was due to Nana Esther’s request.


    She told them to acquire two specially crafted golden keepsake urns. These keepsake urns were encrusted with emerald stones and other precious stones, and it was made by an aged gold smith; who happened to be a dear friend of Nana Esther.


    Unfortunately for Leon and his uncle, just as they concluded their purpose for being at the ind, and were walking back to their yacht, a heavy wind started blowing by the seashore.


    “Leon, I think a well-known tropical storm is about to hit this ind. Any attempt to cross the sea over to Ifub ind would only lead to one thing.” Maxwell said thoughtfully.


    “And what would that be?” Leon raised an eyebrow quizzically.


    “Disaster!”


    “Hmm... How can you be so sure? The wind isn’t strong yet, we could risk it.”


    .....


    As if responding to Leon’s question, the wind tripled in its intensity, blowing off the sun hat on Maxwell’s head and causing Leon’s open jacket to p angrily against his chest. In a matter of seconds, they were almost losing their bnce. Hence, they decided to run back to the nearest beachfront hotel for safety.


    “There, that’s your answer! But, you can still risk it alone if you still want to.” Maxwell smirked.


    “Nah, I think I’ll stay back. I’ll just send my wife a quick message that I won’t being back today.”


    ——–


    “Mummy!”


    Yvonne screeched and wrapped her trembling hands around a fear-stricken Marissa; when all the light in the sitting room instantly went off due to the horrifying lightning and monstrous thunder roar.


    As the sound of the thunderp died down, whispers of howling wind blew by the bungalow.


    At first, the wind whiffed gently. But in a matter of seconds, it picked up its momentum and ferociousness. It mmed angrily against the walls, and rattled along the rooftops, doors, and windows, as though it wanted to be let in. It felt as though the fangs of the wind kept plucking on the vibrating window blind.


    From inside the house, you could hear the distant rustling of leaves, shing of rock pebbles, and loud whistling of a nearby oak tree.


    Just as the upants of the house were trying to adjust to the wailing of the stormy wind, the darkened sky joined in the mourning by shedding heavy downpours.


    E who was still inside the sitting room; when the lights went off, brought out her phone and turned on the touch light.


    She was unfazed by the wind, lightning, and thunder due to the enormous ire and grief in her heart. She simply picked up her bowl of berries and stormed out of the room, with rage oozing out of her entire system.


    “She did this! She did this! The witch wants to strike us dead for confronting her!” Yvonne kept ranting like an insane woman. She was horrified by the howling wind and the torrential rainfall.


    “Calm down, Yvonne,” Marissa gently stroked her head. “Rainfall, wind, and thunder are natural phenomena. E can’t possibly be responsible for them.”


    Marissa took out her phone and also turned on her phone torchlight to illuminate her path.


    “Come with me and tell me everything that happened.!” She led Yvonne calmly by the arm toward her bedroom.


    —


    In the quietness of her bedroom, Epleted the internal locks on her door; due to Yvonne’s earlier statement about having a spare key.


    She leaned her back on the door and slowly slid down until she was seated on the bare floor. Tears of pain and regret flowed down her cheeks as she slowly searched her phone for Leon’s contact.


    She had a strong feeling that Yvonne and her mother would try to sabotage her by divulging the secret about her pregnancy to Leon. Hence, she decided that it was best to first reach out to Leon before his mum did.


    As she was scrolling through her phone, she observed that she had an unread message from Leon. When she checked when the message was sent, it showed that it had been almost an hour ago.


    The message simply read;


    [Leon: Hi sweetie, I miss you so much. I trust Nana and Ivory are taking good care of you.


    My uncle and I are trapped on the neighboring ind due to a tropical storm. Hence, it is very dangerous for us to cross the ocean to Ifub, tonight.


    I am sorry that I may not be able toe back home, today. But, be rest assured that we will being back very early tomorrow morning.


    It is my prayer that this message gets to you before the phonemunication line dies due to the terrifying storm.


    I love you. Hugs and kisses.]


    “Oh no! Why is all this happening now.” Emented.


    She tried calling Leon but his line was not reachable.


    When she tried a couple more times and couldn’t get to him, she angrily tossed the phone aside and started crying all over again.


    Another terrifying thunderp ruptured in the sky and jolted E out of her downcasted mood.


    She sniffed, wiped her tears dry, and stood up.


    “No more self-pity!” E’s wet eyes shone with fierce determination.


    She walked towards her bedroom dresser and saw the pink envelope that Nana Esther earlier talked about. She slowly picked it up and read out what was written on the body of the envelope.


    “To my most cherished granddaughter, E. Note, do not open this envelope until the following morning.”


    E smiled, kissed the envelope, and ced it on her chest, close to her heart.


    As she closed her eyes, she saw a blurry vision of Nana Esther smiling and waving at her. Then she shut her eyes open and said out loud.


    “I will not disappoint you, Miatisa! I will stand and fight for my love! I will fight for my unborn children! I will neither give in nor give up until the very end.”