Chapter 24

**Acacia Point of View**

Earth is round! I never knew I would get a proof of it in such a way.

From far away, in the dark, I could only see the outline of a mountainous island. But only when I got to the shore and anchored the boat did I see what exactly it is.

Hell!

The same hell I've been living from past few months.

"You must be kidding me." I gasped. The light from my candles and the light coming from the castle inside gave me a clear indication of where I was.

But my question is, how can a person go straight ahead and still came to the same place she left behind?

It's not like I misdirected the vehicle. It's not like I swayed from my path. It's not like I went in circles. If it's not any of those reason then how?

My head started to kill me when the ache increased several folds every passing moment. I didn't if should laugh in ridicule or cry at my fate.

If the first escape I thought I dreamt of wasn't a dream, then is this how reached back? Did the water currents lead the boat back to this place and the jerk got me back to my bed?

As much as I'm supremely irritated right now, I cannot help but feel helpless and a little scared.

The fact that I returned back to the same place I left scared me. It was the abnormal fact that scared me most.

I always felt that this place is fishy on many levels but this, I never expected. I can still understand the super command that the jerk have over the castle and the island but the way I returned back to the hell after the whole day of trip was quite perturbing.

To me honest, this place has always been a lot spooky but staying here the past few months has strengthened my heart a little.

But this a whole new level of spookiness.

It's like someone is playing a game.

It's like I'm being played.

With a loud huff, I plopped down on the bench on the boat feeling pretty helpless. I didn't know what to do.

I don't know what else to do.

I exerted myself in this condition, did everything I can to just get out of this place and yet. No matter what I do, I seem to come back here by will or by anything otherwise.

I feel like a ball being played. When it hits the wall, it comes back to the player with double force.

Such a fool I am!

As if on cue, the damned bird flew towards me and sat on the anchor as if he is waiting for me to get down and get back to the fort like an obedient prisoner.

Pinning the bird with a hot glare, I dropped my head down with a defeated sigh. I combed my hair back with my hands and rubbed my face roughly as frustration is getting to me hard.

"I can't believe I came back after all the pain I took to get the hell out of here." I chuckled mirthlessly with a hint of mockery in it.

"Your ex-master must be on cloud nine for playing me. When I was away, trying to get back to my family, to my normal life, struggling to make a boat and paddle it through an endless sea, were you and your master having a laugh of your life?" Again, I pinned Azar with an accusing glare.

"Why am I even asking? You must've laughed your heads off." Tears of aggravation trailed down my cheeks and an involuntary hiccup left my mouth.

"I hate you all." I said without looking at the damned bird. I feel so disappointed and down that I don't even want to look at him.

"I hope you all suffer thousand times than I do. Hand on my heart, I genuinely wish you go through same helplessness like I am feeling right now. Do you even know what that jerk snatched away from me?" My hands formed into a tight fist.

Azar did not dare move from his place and I didn't want to move. The feeling of vulnerability was too much for me to bear. It must be because of the pregnancy hormones that all my feelings are amplified but even without those over-driven hormones, I still hate this situation and the jerk as much.

"I was taken away from my life, kept me here against my will, forced me away from my family; on the top of it I'm - nevermind. Why am I even telling them to you? If you people have any conscience then I wouldn't be here in the first place."

For several moments, I was quite, dwelling in my own thoughts. Tears did not seize to flow from my eyes. The feeling of mental exhaustion is quite heavy which was showed by the overflowing tears.

I feel like a lamb that was raised carefully only to be killed and eaten once it grew enough.

A sudden thought of what would happen to me once the baby is born came to my mind. What would happen to the baby once he is born?

A chill ran down my spine when I saw myself in the place of the lamb that is about to be killed once I give birth to the baby.

At that thought, I suddenly realized that all the care, all the saving, all the protection I received these past months are nothing but mere means to meet ends.

Jerk's means to get the baby!

I unconsciously ran a hand over my well grown belly when the thought of either my baby taken away from me or both of us getting stuck here forever came to my mind.

If my calculations are right, then in a couple of weeks, I'll be ready to give birth. Then what?

"I cannot live like this anymore. I cannot put my life and my child's life in danger by living under a jerk." I shook my head as I told myself that I have to do something.

I don't want to die; not now.

Months ago, when I first stepped on this land, when I was drenched in rain almost close to death, I didn't have much hope.

But not now. I have a child now. I have a responsibility now. I will have a new family member that would come from me.

Turning around, I pulled the levers again and started the boat. "I will leave no matter what. I rather spend years in the middle of the sea alone than stay here." Saying, I paddle away slowly.

I can be stubborn sometimes. This time, I think this is a necessary stubbornness.

Although I'm disheartened and have not much energy to go any further, I still chose to get away with the little power I have.

My eyes shook and my head felt dim as dizziness clouded me. My heart raced fast and lips quivered as the cold slowly started to set inside me.

Going a little far away, I stopped paddling anymore and hugged myself with shaking arms. It's not just my hands but my whole body is shaking now; not with cold but with fatigue.

I'm close to collapse, the state of my mind and heart is uneasy and soon the reason for such uneasiness slowly introduced itself.

It was a couple of hours after I stopped in the middle of the sea and chose to sleep for awhile until I was strong enough to continue in the morning, I felt weird.

My body ached and more, my stomach started to give me pangs of pain every now and then.

It felt so uncomfortable.

I twisted and turned but the soreness continued to pester me. It was not the continuous pain, the pain came in hits, in contractions.

Gasping for extra air, I sat up and rubbed my belly when another pang of pain hit me. That made me hiss loudly.

My sides hurt, my back is killing me and my body feels like a raw meat on grill. One moment it is so hot that I sweat while another moment, chills ran through my body.

Another loud hiss left my mouth followed by a groan. My throat was parched and lips dried. Grabbing a water bottle from beside me, I took a large gulp.

The discomfort slowly increased and with that came haziness clouding my senses. I couldn't think properly nor could I act accordingly.

The pain and discomfort was too much to handle. "Oh my God!" Came out of my mouth in scream as another contraction hit inside me.

Holding the edge of the bamboo log tightly, I slowly leaned back and looked down at my belly. Frowning, I patted my stomach gently as my mind wandered on all the possibilities of sudden pain.

It can't be -

There is still nearly two weeks time.

"This must be a false alarm. I can't be in labor, can I?"

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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