Wind Witch

By: Sheila Chingwa

The Captive

The air bit a Sarah’s nose. Already, the fall weather was in the morning air. Rising early was expected for all of those at the boarding school but the morning bell had yet rung and Sarah was thankful for a moment to herself. She rose up on to her elbow and focused her eyes on the other children laying asleep in their beds. Blankets, nothing more than rags of fabric was gathered in their arms and wrapped tightly around their little bodies as they slept. With a shiver, she flung her feet over the side of the bed and slipped on her shoes and fastened the laces. With a tug, she pulled her blanket over her shoulders and sighed as the warmth sunk in and chased the chill away.

Outside, echoing up the road was a familiar sound of a truck. Sarah jumped when the bell sounded to wake everyone up. The nuns quickly bustled about shaking kids and yelling out orders to dress and move quickly. One little girl sunk to the floor and froze in fear of the advancing nun. Sister Mary, noticing the little girl on the floor rushed over to her. Student’s eyes widened as they watched Sister Mary grab and pull her up on her feet. Frozen in fear, the only movement in the room was the tear that rand down her face. Voices outside began to raise, other children could be heard crying. Yes, this is how a typical school year began at the boarding school.

Sarah paused, [Flash back 4 years.]

Darkness covered the inside of the wagon where she had spent weeks riding in. Where she was, she did not know. The moon above illuminated the dirt road just enough for Sarah to see the trunks of trees passing by. Days of sitting in her own feces was sickening but her captors would not open the doors to let her out to take care of her needs. The horses stopped in front of a large building and Sarah could see the outline of its stature and stared at the dimly lit building with a shiver.

“Get her out of there you barbarians”, shouted Sister Jane.

Her captors keys clanked against each other as the driver pulled them from his jacket pocket. With a click of the lock, the door opened and Sister Jane peered into the darkness that entombed the little girl. Sara could see Sister Mary cover her nose and mouth with her hand. She raised a lantern to assess the child.

“Burn the clothes.” Sister Jane said to the young boy that accompanied her. “Get her to the wash station.” She turned and walked back to the building.

“Sister Mary,” said Marcus. “This girl needs a lot of cleaning. Sister Jane said to burn the clothes.”

Sister Mary circled the little girl and eyeing up the little being with outward discuss. She lifted her long braid and one fair sweep, a blade appeared from under her robes. Carelessly, she wrapped the braid around one hand and sawed of the twined hair with the other. With a satisfied look and a side smile, she walked away from Sarah with satisfaction. She peered down at the braid considering what to do with it. She walked over to a stove in the corner of the room and threw the lock into the fire.

“She does not join the others. Make sure she is properly confined in the basement. I must talk to Father Unis, she is special, supposedly.” She grabbed her robe and exited the room. The door shut and Marcus and Sarah was locked inside.

Marcus ran up to the door peering through a crack. He watched with his back turned to Sarah until Sister Mary was out of the hallway. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and turned to look at the girl. Sarah’s hair was hanging there all mangled in various lengths. Her clothes were covered in filth and the stench was more than he had seen in other kids arriving? As he stoked the fire he pulled a large kettle off the wall and filled it with water and placed it on the stove. He walked over to the a door and knocked. Sound rustled behind the door and soon it opened.

Miss Jade walked into the room. Her hair was short like Sarah’s was. Her dark eyes fixed on Sarah. Sadness could be seen as she surmised the little one. She kneeled down in front of her to greet her in a kind manner. She held out her hand hoping the child would accept the gesture. Sarah only stared at the open hand and did nothing. Miss Jade signed and hoped the child understood that she was a friend.

A tear rolled down Sarah’s check as Miss Jade undressed her, burned her clothes and placed her in a warm wash bin. The warmth of the water washed away all the grime that collected on her skin. Her golden brown skin began to show its true brilliance. Sarah shivered as Miss Jade ran her finger over her mark on her arm.

Miss Jade turned to Marcus, “Go get my seeing bowl from my room.” With a smile, he rushed off to gather the Miss’ things making sure to bring the water from her cabinet.

Sarah watched the room lighten with the rising sun. She could see the provisions provided to Miss Jade were meager. A wood stove sat in the corner. A table sat near so one could work and keep warm. A pitcher, bible, ruffled papers and a lump of cloth sat on the table. Around the room was nothing but a shelf with bottles collecting dust. She lowered herself to her knees and waited. What else could she do as the two of them rustled around busy in their chore?

“Marcus, watch that door. Any shadow, footsteps or distant voices you let me know.” With concentration, Miss Jade turned to the bowl. The sun began to descend its light across the table until it came to a rest on the bowl. Reflection of the light shimmered and cast Miss Jade’s shadows on the wall. Sarah could see her standing over the bowl making rhythmic jesters over the water. In distinct words were spoken as she moved her hands over the water.

“Joseph, She is here. She is badly need of care but she is here.”

A deep voice echoed through the room and Sarah searched all the corners for where it came, “They brought her all the way to you? She has been taken all the way there? Of course she is in bad shape that was weeks worth of traveling.”

“Joseph, the mark is clear. She definitely has the mark of the wind on her. Sister Mary told Marcus to place her in the basement for safe keeping. Even she knows she is special.” She glanced over to Marcus to make sure he was keeping watch. “Shall I lighten or make the mark disappear?”

A scoff filled the room, “Yes, but one must wait until she is placed in the basement and forgotten. Make sure she is always fed. Are they going to let her go to school?”

With a sigh, Miss Jade shook her head, “Not at this time Joseph.”

“Perhaps in time, she will be allowed to learn and write English. That will be important for her future. Please get back to me in a few days.” With that, the sun moved and cast a shadow from the window frame across the water and Miss Jade walked away from the bowl and looked at Sarah.

“Miss Jade!” Marcus turned from the door to alert her that company was coming.

Marcus quickly ran to Miss Jade and grabbed the bowl and carried it to the bin and dumped the water into Sarah’s wash bin. With the evidence gone, Miss Jade grabbed a brush and acted as if she was grooming Sarah’s hair. The door lock clicked, doorknob turned, and a rush of air entered the room before Father Unic came into the room. His brown robe hung on his thin frame. His gaunt body and angular face seemed to cling to his bones. With a click, the door closed behind him and the room became silent.

“Hum,” said the squeaky father, “Ah, much better. Marcus, take her to the basement. The dark room should do.”

With a tug, Marcus grabbed Sarah and pulled her out of the room. Father Unic followed the pair to insure his instructions were followed. At the top of the stairs was a door of grand stature and Marcus struggled to get the door unhinged and opened. The steps leading to the basement was all covered with cobwebs, dust, and fingerprints left in blood from other student’s struggle and resistance to entering this space. Looking from side to side, fear rose up in Sarah and she stopped and stared at the reality of the place. She didn’t know where she was being taken to but she knew it wasn’t a good place. Marcus returned to her side and grabbed her elbow and pulled her down the stairs. Father Unic’s keys clinked against each other at each step he descended. Sarah could hear his breathing quicken as they labored down the corridor. Marcus stopped outside a door and Father Unic pushed him aside so he could unlock the door.

“Get in there you little Heathen.” He grabbed Sara and threw her into the room.

Sarah landed on the floor. A searing pain bit her knees and palms. The hard floor was cold and bit at her skin. She laid there for a moment. Darkness seemed to envelope her instantly as the door closed and locked.

“Aanii!”, Said a small voice in the corner.

“Aanii.”, said Sarah.

The door flew open and Father Unic stepped into the room. His form made for the voice in the corner, Sara could see he was heading right towards the little girl. She could see his slender fingers grab her by the scruff of the neck and hit her squarely across the cheek. Not just once but many times saying, “You only speak English here.” He left the room with the little girl crying in the corner. [memory faded].

With a shiver, Sarah threw her blanket around her shoulders and went to assist Miss Jade with cleaning up of the “new students”. She often wondered what she had done to be thrown into the basement that first year, but she was determined that none of these students would end up there. Not today, not this year. Sarah quickened her steps to make sure she was there for those who were arriving.