Prologue
“Wah deh up, rasta gal? Fi mi fault… mi meant surfer gal,” my big brother, Pierre, teased me.(What’s up, rasta gal? My fault… I meant surfer gal.)
I laughed at him as I wiped down my surfboard decorated in Jamaica’s flag colors. “Wah a yuh a duh up suh early? A mommy afta yuh again fi nuh a duh chores?” I questioned with my laughter blanketing us both. (What are you doing up so early? Is mommy after you again for not doing chores?)
“Sinting lakka dat. Something like that.” He chuckled, and a shrug followed his reply. “But naw… I wanted to give you your birthday gift before I got too high later and forgot.” Pierre removed a box wrapped in brown paper from his shirt pocket and handed it to me.
I stopped wiping my board and placed it in the sand. He fired up his blunt while I removed the paper and opened my gift. The gift box was yellow, and I smiled because damn near everyone on the island knew yellow was my favorite color.When I opened the box, I was surprised to see a beautiful necklace with a silver surfboard pendant at the end of it.
“Oh, my gosh, brother! I love it so much!” I grabbed him in a tight hug because the gift was creative and so very thoughtful. My brother hugged me back like it was the last time he’d see me. Briefly, I pondered why his hug felt different, but I didn’t focus on it too much. When we separated, I looked into his eyes, and that’s when I saw they were bloodshot red. “Brother, what’s wrong? You don’t look so well?” I asked, giving him a full examination.
“Nothing is wrong, sis. I just need some more sleep. You know I’m not a morning person,” he stated and smiled.
“Yeah, I know, but I’m here if you need to talk, big brother. I may not be part of yo’ group of bandits, but we’re still sister and brother, and I love you past the moon. Thank you for my beautiful birthday gift. I love it,” I expressed sincerely and kissed his cheek.
Pierre nodded in agreement, then placed the necklace around my neck.
“I hear you, sis. The love and loyalty are surely mutual.” He exhaled smoke from his nose and stared out at the ocean. I don’t know what silent conversation they were having, but minutes later, he spoke again. “You about to make those waves yo’ bitch?” he inquired, puffing on his weed some more.
“Yes, sir. I’ll see you tonight at my birthday dinner, big bro. You know how I do.” I smirked at him, and we did our handshake. We waved goodbye before I stood and ran to the water and floated on my surfboard. When I turned around, he was gone. His disappearance was weird as hell. I should have at least seen him walking to his car. How did he disappear so fast? It was strange, but I focused back on the ocean. I continued to float on my board until I picked up speed and then jumped up. In no time, I was riding the waves and basking inthe euphoric feeling that surfing always gave me. The waves splashed onto my legs and board, but it didn’t distract me. I maneuvered the board with my knees slightly bent as I tackled one big wave after the other.
The sun pelted against my skin, and I welcomed the warmth like always. Since I was a little girl, the sun has always been my security blanket next to surfing. It energized me and helped me to relax when needed. I continued to surf and complete my usual reps until I was ready to call it quits. After a while, I trekked back to the land and dressed. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, and chill bumps covered my arms. Quickly, I looked around because it felt like someone was watching me. My eyes darted up and down the sandy beach, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. There were a few people out, but not too many. I’m usually alone at this hour because I like to practice alone. The feeling I was having felt weird; something wasn’t right. However, since I couldn’t pinpoint my uneasiness at the same moment, I had no choice but to continue to pack up and leave.
After locking up my surfboard in the cupboard that only surfers could access, I hopped onto my bike and headed home. As I rode down the dirt road, I prayed my birthday dinner party went off without a hitch. My dad was known for being the town’s voodoo priest and caused a lot of people to steer away from my family. He was once viewed as the local boogeyman, and I hated that. There were times I was bullied because of the decisions he made, and it wasn’t fair for me at all. For years, I longed for a normal childhood, just like any other kid. However, Jah found favor in me because my dad had a breakdown and disappeared about three years ago. In his absence, our family and friends started to come around again, and I was truly happy about that.
I waved at a few of the townspeople as I cut through the grass and rode up the small hill to my house, my stomach pains making a debut. When I reached the top, I hopped off my bike, and I dropped it on the ground. The only thought on my mind right now was food. I jogged into the house. My stomach was growling something serious; I prayed Mommy and Grandma had some leftover bammy and callaloo. I snatched open the screen door that led right into the kitchen, but as soon as I walked in, I slipped right on the floor.
“What the—” I stopped mid-sentence when I looked down at my hand. It was covered in blood.
Blood? Where in the world did all this blood come from?
As if the universe wanted me to have an answer to my question immediately, loud commotion and cries of fear filled my ears. My head snapped up at the loud screams and roars. I clumsily moved around as I tried to get up from the pool of blood on the floor. Finally, I caught my balance as I stood to my feet. When my eyes trailed to the doorway of the kitchen and living room, there lay Grandma in a pool of blood. Tears immediately sprang into my eyes at the sight of her badly butchered body. My heartbeat raced as I wondered who could hurt a beautiful, kind soul like Grandma. I hurried and raced to her side as I swiped her long hair from her chocolate face.
A terrifying scream ripped through me, and I heard footsteps heading towards me. “No, Grandma! No!” I cried as I rested on my knees before I threw myself on her bloody body. She wasn’t supposed to go like this. Grandma was too selfless, gentle, and loving to have her life taken like this. “I’m sorry, Grandma! I’m so sorry,” I cried and rubbed her bloody hair from the other side of her face. Before I could continue to mourn, a door slammed against the wall. I flinched hard as hurried footsteps raced toward me.
“Run, Creek, run!” my mommy yelled as she rounded the corner and made it to me, but it was too late. My father moved with a speed I had never seen before and plunged a long knife into my mother’s back.
“No! Mommy, no!” I cried as she collapsed in my arms. “Oh, God! Please help us!” I yelled and prayed out loud. The tip of the knife pierced my tank top and breast. The slice hurt badly.
“There’s no God here, little girl. There’s only death!” my father shouted as he swiftly snatched the knife out of Mommy and swung that long knife at me. However, my brother rushed in with the same speed as him. Pierre slammed my dad against the wall as they wrestled for the knife. I was lost at how both of them moved around the room so swiftly. They were so strong and vicious, like animals in the wild. I noticed the gleam from their elongated and sharp teeth, and I knew it was time to go.
“Creek, go! Get the fuck outta here. Run, Creek, run!” my brother shouted.
More tears rolled down my face as I backed up slowly. My dad raised the knife above his head and plunged it into my brother’s stomach.
“No, Pierre!” I screamed.
“Creek, go,” he gurgled out while still trying to fight my father. I took off out of the house and back down the hill.
“I will find you, Creek. I will always find you!” my dad shouted at my back.
I ran and ran until I made it to the docks and jumped into the water. I swam until I made it to the last boat, then climbed inside the bottom of it. It reeked of fish guts and other disgusting things, but I hid under the large brown tarp that was there. I placed my hand over my mouth and lay as still as I could when I heard footsteps approach.
“Where is she!” my father yelled.
“I don’t know, Master. Her scent stopped here,” someone answered.
I tightened my grip around my mouth as I willed not an inch of my body to move.
