THE LAST OF HIS KIND

Prologue

THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD

The woman blinked a few times, but the pounding of feet refused to stop. She kept on running, running with a new born baby soundly asleep.

The child she’d given birth to was an abomination. Different from their kind and against the laws of nature and the only solution was the death of the child. Their world was devoid of evil and humans, a world embellished with love and spiritual tranquility. The only thing they feared was the birth of the last one born with the eyes of evil.

As prophesied, it was the birth of a child that would rain both chaos and peace. The mother refused to let her child die because of a mere prophesy. It wasn’t an effulgent sight to be beheld.

There were plenty of burning sticks shining between the forest trees. And she’d made a decision, to cross the boundary that kept them protected for thousands of years from the overworld.

She broke the barrier, to a world she knew nothing about. A Strange bird flew in the air, big things moving fast on the black hard ground. Quickly, she placed the child by the side of the road and ran back inside. Tears rained from her eyes.

After she had been caught for doing wrong, she was held in chains. Beside her knelt other women, weeping, their heads held low and their mouth bleeding profusely.

The non-stop snarling became louder. She could tell that something much powerful than her was in front of her. She saw the feet of the wolf walk away from her to the women. Their breaths became shaky, their body trembling with fear, they knew what would become of them for helping to save her child.

The clawed feet circled them for some seconds then halted. It broke the chains holding the other women. The women didn’t wait for seconds and bolted into the forest, their desperateness to survive didn’t have them think twice. They ran as fast as their feet could carry them. The twigs started creaking. With an anxious grunt one of them halted. She stood there staring into the darkness, but not much to her relief the creaking didn’t stop…it was right behind her- the monster everyone feared.

Immediately, her head was gone and spring of blood gushed out from the reaped neck.

The second woman, snarls reverberated around her. She grunted in fret, the force pushing her to the ground. She tried scrambling to her feet again, but a black hairy wolf pounced on her. She screamed in terror and tried struggling with the wolf that held her down. She struggled to hold the wolf back but even with both hands it was still stronger. It drove its blood-dripping teeth into her shoulder and ripped it out. She yelled louder in torment, still persistent to break free from the wolf, but it bit the other shoulder and ripped off the hand. Its eyes were glowing gold as the sun she’d seen today.

Then her head… ripped off.

Returning back to the mother, through the shadow, the wolf turned into a middle-aged man, his arms crossed behind his back. His eyes were glowing gold of royalty. He was wearing a long kaftan, his built muscles and handsome were what pinned the mother of the father to him- the father of the child.

“Tonight, we witnessed the execution of those who betrayed us. The prophesy which our ancestors passed onto us. The prophesy of the ten green eyed,” the man finally spoke up. “Throughout the ages, the other nine born with such eyes brought calamity to everyone around them. The child that they seek to protect is bewitched even though he is the tenth with the eyes. The last of his kind. For Yemi, my wife, who happens to be the mother of the child. She shall be banished to the overworld, the land of humans to face suffering and pain.”

She was kicked out from her people. The only mistake she made was giving birth to a child born with green eyes. She was left almost dead in the land she knew nothing about. She tried her best to get up, but she could so was crawl on her stomach. She hoped for someone to help her. The world around her started spinning.

She hoped to find her child…

14 years later…. 2019

Living in a big state entailed going to either a big secondary school or a small secondary school. Going to a big secondary school implied that not everyone was concerned about your lifestyle. Most students don't get to communicate with each other. This meant, majority of the students minded their business. In secondary school, most of the students were defined not by their current achievements, but by their past embarrassment.

Theresa Moffat in jss2 was never able to break out of the smart, preppy shell. She won the cowbell spelling bee competition. School was her life. She'd rather study than be with friends. She just needed to survive three more years. However, that was easier said than done.

Escaping the hot, early September wind in 2019, holiday was over. Theresa walked into school, through the main entrance heading for the long hall. Teachers were attending to the newly enrolled students in other classes. The moment she walked into the lobby, she knew things were different. Instead of a lousy atmosphere like students gisting about the latest music or movies and the teachers trying to chase the students in. The hall was as quiet as a graveyard, as other Jss3 students spoke in hushed tones.

As she passed the cluster of students, she tried catching tidbits of the most recent gossips which weren't about Nigerian musicians, movies or celebrities. The whispers continued all the way to class. As she took her front seat in French class, a group of students huddled at the back, conversing in low voices. Fighting the desire to eavesdrop, she pulled out her notebook and began her French translation.

"Omor, there is a new juvenile dexterous student for jss3 oh," exclaimed one of the students, Selene, as she smacked her school bag down next to o Theresa's in excitement. "Apparently, he even studied outside the country sef."

"That's absurd. Our school doesn't admit in Jss3 and ss3,"

"I know, right?"

Once the second bell rang, everyone put their rumor agenda on halt. Mr. Inyang showed up with a student, about their age, fourteen. He was dark-skinned, tall, had lean body, could be mistaken as an outsider, but a Nigerian. He wore the school uniform. Surprisingly, he was timid.

"Christopher Williams," Mr. Inyang's voice was shrill. "This will be your class. You can introduce yourself to them in French."

Christopher didn't hesitate. "J'mapelle Monsieur Christophe Williams. J'ai quatorze ans. Mon père est politicien et ma mère est docteur. Merci." He smiled widely. It was the first time Greenland high school had a student from outside the country. He had their accent.

"Christopher, since you're new, endeavour to adjust and If you have any issues. Don't be reluctant to get help from Theresa." Other students grumbled as Mr. Inyang gestured to her.

"him no Sabi come to me make I teach am?" One of the students said in Nigerian pidgin.

Theresa's eyes widened, she was good at pushing people away from her. "Moi?"