Aiko pushed Jhuni away with all her strength. Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned with emotion.
"I loved you, Jhuni. I loved you so much that I kept the truth about our daughter's father from Assey all these years. I was mocked. People laughed at me. But I kept hiding you from everyone. I thought love was enough. But I was wrong. Don't come here playing the sympathy card.
If a day comes when you finally leave Assey, your daughter and I will be waiting. Now go and do what you have to do. Just leave."
She turned away and leaned against the tree again.
"I'm not going to tie you here," Jhuni said quietly. "Assey won't check. He'll just assume I did it. I'm going to Barbados to find Ruth. I want you to stay with my mother until I come back. Her hiding spot is just outside town. It's safe."
He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
"Why are you hiding her?" Aiko asked sharply.
"I don't know. Lately… she keeps saying strange things. You'll see it for yourself."
Jhuni reached out to hold her hand, but Aiko stepped aside and followed behind him without a word.
They walked for a while, deeper into the trees, until they reached a hidden hut covered in thick green leaves. It was camouflaged so well, you could barely tell it was there.
Inside, his mother was lying down. Jhuni stepped forward and called out softly,
"Mom, are you awake? I brought Aiko, the mother of my child."
The woman stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her lips started moving immediately.
"Her end is near… her end is near… her end is near…"
"Mom, stop. Aiko isn't going to die. She'll stay here with you," Jhuni said as he rubbed her shoulder gently.
His mother stared at him, her voice steadier this time.
"Jhuni, where are you going to? Stop chasing after Assey. A storm is coming. And it'll wipe out anyone standing with him. I'm your mother. Hear me well."
She looked over at Aiko.
"My daughter, I can see pain and rage in your eyes. And yes, some things people do are unforgivable. But when we harden our hearts too much, we hurt ourselves the most. Forgive those who've wronged you, and let God take care of the rest."
Before Aiko could respond—
Phew. Phew. Phew.
Arrows flew past the hut, dangerously close.
Jhuni quickly covered her mouth. They all went silent and stayed still. After a while, when things were calm again, he lowered his hand.
"I'm going to Barbados to get our daughter," he said in a whisper. "I'm done with Assey. Aiko will take care of you. There's enough food stocked until I return. Please, be safe."
Aiko pulled something from her pocket—a golden amulet.
She held it out to Jhuni. "The rest is up to you now. If you betray me again, Jhuni, peace will never find you. I found this today at the shore. See the 'M' carved on it? That's for the Mawuko family. I know it."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"Give it to Anaya. She might know what to do with it. Now go—before it's too late."
Jhuni took it with a determined look and turned to leave.
But just beyond the trees, a dark figure was watching.
It darted away immediately, heading straight to Assey's tribe to report what it had seen.