The Shadow

Free Version

Chapter 1

                    It seemingly doesn't take much time for a little boy to realise that the world as he knew no longer existed,he had to quickly wake up and see things as they were.

                    This is a story of Menzi, a young boy that was highly favored by the God's. Certain people and creatures were highly drawn to him sensing something different about him and the way he moved through life, some said his energy could heal and some couldn't figure him out. 

                    Menzi was orphaned at a very young age, losing his parents in thunderstorm,thunderstrikes were common in his village, a place filled with witches and Warlocks. His parents, however, were lightworkers, as were the generations before them.They had made enemies in their lifetime for the good they did for the people in village. One fateful day, thunder roared, marking the demise of Sarah and Themba, Menzi's parents. 

                    The day Menzi lost his parents marked the beginning of his destiny. It was Sartuday morning when he felt something strange in his spirit. Usually, he was a energetic and would assist his parents whether fetching water, collecting wood or gathering vegetables from the garden. But this day he felt inexplicably sad. He even got into trouble at school for leaving during lunch break and the teachers couldn't stop him. This act shook his parent's when he got home, but they continued about their day, planning to speak with the teachers on Monday, unaware they wouldn't live to see that day. On Sartuday afternoon, the weather abruptly changed from a beautiful, sunny day to a sky full of dark clouds. Everyone in the village sought safety, seeing the threatening storm. The red soiled streets grew quite. Menzi and his parents were in a rondavel with a grass roof.

                     The thunder began, with flashing lightning and the roars were like nothing they had ever heard before. 

                     The rain poured hard, accompanied by a strong wind.

                      Menzi's mother quickly donned her spiritual attire :all white, including a doek, a robe and a cape.

                       She was about to light the white candles to summon the God's for protection, but it was already too late. 

                       The last they heard with Menzi's father was a loud thunderclap and a swift lightning strike that set the grass roof on fire. 

                       It all happened so fast.

                        In the midst of it, Themba threw little Menzi outside through a small window, saving him, but both parents couldn't make it. The rondavel burned down to the ground taking Sarah and Themba's lives. Menzi stood crying hysterically in the rain, frozen like a statue until something in him told him to look around. 

                        That was when Menzi saw the man and the woman who lived one house down. 

                        Even though he was young, he could see from their gestures that they were manipulating thunder and lightning. 

                        He realised they were the ones who had turned him into an orphan.

                         They didn't even hide when they saw him looking, confident that a young boy couldn't do anything to them. 

                    Menzi lacked understanding, not knowing the power he had within.

                     He was chosen by the God's to fight the bad with the good, to alchemise every negative energy sent to his way. Even though he found himself alone most of the time, in reality he was never alone. Everywhere he went and in everything he did, Menzi was devinely guided and protected by beings not of this world. 

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

                    Menzi grew up a kind and humble soul but was often misunderstood, burdened by a destiny bigger than himself. He was often dismissed as a black sheep, people trying to confine him. In truth, he was an enigma, captivating those around him wherever he went. He raised eyebrows, young and old alike. He possessed a charming physical appearance with strong features: a sculpted bone structure, dark skin and almond eyes. He was of moderate height, with a naturally athletic built body.

                    Even though Menzi possessed latent abilities, he was unaware of them. He was destined to endure intense darkness and pain. This torment manifested spiritually before it became physical. Menzi's life was filled with unrest, sleepless nights and tear soaked pillows. Misfortune plagued him, and he became a laughing stock in his village. The elders sensed his potential though he himself did not. They tried to suppress him, casting dark spells to hinder his path, fueled by their fear of his power. The very people who murdered his parent's using dark magic, manipulating thunder, were still alive watching him like a hawk. They reveled in his misery, finding solace in his ignorance. Every full moon they would cast dark spells, believing they were keeping him at bay. Little did they know that the God's saw everything. The witches were exactly where the God's wanted them :obsessed with Menzi.

                    Menzi was enduring his usual spiritual turmoil as if being refined like gold in a crucible. His heart was heavy, his mind raced, and his spirit felt fractured. He felt disconnected from himself, which led to frequent emotional breakdowns.

                    One Thursday, on a summer evening, he felt stifled by the heat in his yellow-painted room. He decided to step outside for some air and sat on a stoep, polished smooth with cow dung. He sighed and looked up at the beautiful sky, adoring the stars and the moon. He found peace in the night sky, but this night felt different. Puzzled, he heard a loud but gentle voice calling out his name: "Menzi Menzi". He felt a strange comfort as he replied in his heart. The voice continued, "Everything is going to be okay. You were chosen before you were born. Your journey is complete, you just have to walk through it". Then, the voice faded, but it echo still lingered in his ears. Menzi sensed that his life was about to take a significant turn, and perhaps things would improve. But this was only the beginning, except, this time he would perceive everything as it truly was. His abilities were about to awaken. Him, his enemies, the witches, the attacks, and the betrayals. Menzi sometimes forsaw impending misfortune, he could detect spells from miles away, and he could discern people's true nature and intentions before they could even speak or act against him. It felt like a movie, something extraordinary.