Warning: this chapter has a slight 'mature' tone in it, reader's discretion advised.

David took another glance towards his phone, all the more baffled as he saw no reply from Zarinna. He'd been texting her all afternoon, yet no response had he heard from her.

He lifted his gaze towards the cottage where she lived. The lights weren't on. If she'd have gone home already, the lights would at least be seen.

He furrowed his brows in remorse. He shouldn't have agreed to speak to Lauren earlier. Had he known of the unseemly thoughts she had planned, he would never have gone in that room. He knew her since they were children, never did he expect of the capabilities she had.

He released a shaky breath. It looks like he wasn't wrong, it was Zarinna whom he'd seen walk out the main building. Oh Lord, what could she have thought?

He heaved a sigh and pushed the wooden fence open, summoning courage as he walked to the house adjacent to Zarinna's cottage. This must be her uncle's house. He didn't know, but he had this heavy feeling about him all afternoon, and he couldn't help but worry.

He composed himself and knocked on the door. Sure enough, a woman of about 40 years of age met his gaze. She studied him with her glance. "Yes? Are you looking for Zarinna, Sir? I noticed you wear the same uniform."

David cleared his throat, "Uh, yes, Ma'am. Is she by any chance here? We were supposed to walk home together this afternoon but-"

"Who's that?" The woman's head turned as a male voice was heard through the room.

"Ah, my name's David Awiyao, Sir," He stretched his hand towards the man. "I was just wondering if Zarinna is here?"

"Dennis Tawwaki," The man said briefly and took his hand. "I'm Zarinna's Uncle. By the way, why're you looking for her? Did you come to court her?"

David lowered his head, unsure of how to respond to his blunt remark.

"Well, you can go see her in that cottage over there," He stepped out and pointed towards the wooden house before them. Dennis narrowed his gaze, "Oh. That's strange? She's usually already home by this time. She doesn't seem to have arrived yet."

"That's the thing, dear," The woman spoke up, "The young man says they were gonna walk home together today."

Dennis knit his brows in wonder, "Is that so?"

"Yes, Sir," David confirmed, "But around dismissal time she wouldn't respond to texts even to calls so I was quite worried. I hoped to see her here but now I see she's not." David lowered his head, his mind puzzled of where Zarinna could have gone.

He snapped back to senses, taking his phone out as he felt it vibrate. He gazed down at the screen, the word Zarinna flashing upon it. He swiped the answer button in haste.

"Hello, Zarinna?"

"David? No, it's Gina,"

"Oh, what's up?" David bowed slightly towards the couple before him and stepped away.

"David, is Zarinna with you, by any chance?"

"What? No, Gina she's not. I'm actually with her Uncle right now in here in Agawa. She's not here too."

"Oh no," He felt a wave of nervosity wash over him as he heard Gina's remark, "I was with her earlier! We were in the mountain near my house here in Payeo. I excused myself for a while to take a call but when I came back she was gone! All her stuff were left behind. Oh my goodness, David. Where could she have gone?"

Zarinna woke up to the smell of cigar filling her lungs, the feeling of soreness immediately surging back to her body as she sought to open her eyes. A pang of pain burst in the back of her head, and with this she began to feel alarmed. She lifted her head, scattering her gaze around the dimly lit room. Where was she?

In a split of a second, the memory of what had transpired came flooding back to her mind, causing a spike to her already throbbing heart.

She saw her arms tied, upwards towards a chain far above her head. Cold beads of sweat escaped her glands, and all the more she felt her mouth run dry.

"I see you're awake?" She jolted upright at the sound.

"Who are you?"

"You know who I am," The man chuckled, stepping into the light as he spoke. Terrified, she pulled her gaze downward, the scar upon the man's cheek sending her a wave of terror.

"What do you want with me?" She swallowed with difficulty, meeting his gaze as the man knelt before her.

"It's simple what I want," He lifted his hands to her face. Zarinna felt her skin crawl in disgust. "I want you,"

"Never," Zarinna spat, fury rising to her core.

The man swiftly rose to his feet, caressing the rifle that hung on his shoulder. "Well, I thought you'd say that. All you women are always reluctant at first, maybe you need some ... foreplay?"

Zarinna's eyes widened in disgust, repulsed as the man began to touch neck, "Get your hands off me!" His hand came towards her face, and as though in reflex she confined the man's hand with her mouth, sinking her teeth into his hands till she tasted blood. The man jolted away in pain, wincing as he covered his bloodies hand with the other.

"Wench!" He pulled her by her hair, "Don't dare play violence with me. I can kill you with one blow if I wanted to," He hissed. He gazed away momentarily and looked at her again - this time intently.

"I'm going to give you an offer," The man began to pace the floor. "Instead of killing you, I am willing to take you in with us in the camp as a formal wife. But I ask from you one thing, and one thing only," He shot her a piercing glance. "Deny you faith,"

"What?" Zarinna knit her brows, processing his words in her mind. "What makes you think I'd rather go with you? Just kill me if that makes you happy!"

An unimpressed laugh escaped the man's mouth, shaking his head as he heard her words. He lifted his rifle to her face, Zarinna's eyes widened in terror, her breathing coming to a halt as she saw the gun's barrel.

"This is what I hate the most about you ... Christians." He abrasively lowered the gun, "You think so highly of yourself as though you're better than any of us." He turned around and lit a cigar. "I wouldn't have cared anyway, but when I heard you forced our Mambunung to conversion? It really ticked me off."

Zarinna lifted her gaze, a realization dawning upon her at the man's words. "You were the one behind the fire, weren't you?"

A sinister smile adorned his lips, "You deserved it. That was in retribution to how you've dishonored our culture"

"Culture?" A scoff escaped Zarinna's lips, astounded of the man's erroneous display of logic. "How was this related to our culture!? And besides it was his choice! He wasn't forced to convert! How could you just carelessly set a church on fire for no-"

"Shut up!" Zarinna came to a halt as his voice echoed loudly in the room, her heart gripped by fear of the fury that was manifest in his face.

"Forced or not, you shouldn't have done any advances on him either way," He took in a breath and began to speak once more.

"Now, back to my offer," He looked past her and gave a nod. Zarinna's brow furrowed. In a split of a second she felt the chains that confined her arms lift, pulling her to her feet forcefully. A gasp escaped her lips, her sore body aching all the more due to the sudden motion.

"I won't kill you," He directed the gun towards her once more, "But you have to deny your faith,"

Immediately a memory flashed in Zarinna's head, the sight of that one starry night she gave a promise to her God. The words replayed in her mind like an echo.

No matter what they say, Lord, I will still pray even if it costs my life...

Zarinna gazed at the man before her, swallowing in the lump of nervosity that seemed to overwhelm her very being.

Lord, I give You my life now...

"No," She breathed, her voice cold, "I will not."

The man's lips curled up in agitation, she saw him take hold of the gun's trigger. Instinctively, she shut her eyes, her heart now in anticipation of what's to come.

"Come to think of it," Her eyes shot open, gazing up as she saw the man drop his weapon. "I think I'll have my fun first before I kill you,"

She felt her heart writhe, a storm of emotions now gripping her as she watched the man unbutton his shirt. He advanced towards Zarinna, his fingers going upward from her abdomen.

"No!" Zarinna stepped back, but to no avail, as she felt the chains on her arm lifted once more, "Don't touch me!" She wriggled away from the man, his scent of sweat filling her nose as he buried his face to her neck.

"No!" She gazed away in repulsion, loathing as she felt his arm inside his blouse, "Get off me, you bastard!!!"

He lifted himself from her form, taking hold of her blouse and with a loud rip, Zarinna felt cold wind seep through her bare skin. She gazed down at her chest, her undergarment alone left in its place. The man began to advance, a lascivious look in his eye as he anchored his gaze to her form.

Oh Lord, no...