Chapter 1.

"Zendaya, Zendaya", a woman yelled her daughter's name, yearning to hear her soft innocent voice respond." Has anyone seen Zendaya?", she implored petrified, and unfortunately no one seemed to have an answer. Sobbing, she kept searching for her daughter. The villagers assist her, and it seemed like this little girl faded from existence as she was no way to be found.

"She is in the evil forest."

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The folks of a Kingdom called Amari are remarkably cultural, they follow their traditions and customs unquestionably. There are beliefs about witchcraft, mermaids, and Evil forest. Along with these beliefs, there are also legendary tales that are taken very seriously.

One of the legends of Amari was about an Evil forest. In this forest, it was believed that there are ghosts, witches, and evil creatures. This forest was dangerous that most men didn't want to grace it with their presence. Though the males of this Kingdom were permitted to enter this forest at their own risk, females were forbidden.

It was believed that the evil forest does not have sympathy for females, even if it is just a little innocent girl. If an older woman, who has already been married enters this forest and comes back alive, then this woman is a witch. She should be burned. But a little innocent girl enters and comes back alive, then this girl's fate is to be a queen one day.

Don't ask why? In the Kingdom of Amari, you don't ask why. You have to obey what you are told, without complaining and questioning. No one dares to question the King. No child dares to question elders. The Evil forest does not have mercy for a female, that is final.

Well, I'm that innocent girl, l have once entered this Evil forest and came back alive. I was just four years old when this incident happened. What I can remember is that I was trying to follow my father and his friend, when suddenly I couldn't see where they had disappeared to. Somehow I took the wrong direction, finding myself in that dark and evil forest.

I was lost yet not scared but I can't say the same about my mother. When she finally realized that I'm not at home, not playing with my friends, not with my father, and I'm lost. My mother was very scared. At least this is what I was told.

She screamed and yelled for help. All the men in the village had to go and look for me. "This woman is very careless. How can a child just disappear", l can imagine what rude people said?

After searching for hours, a village prophet told them that I was in the Evil forest. This forest is so dangerous that no man wanted to go and look for me. My mother is not allowed to go to this forest. My father collapsed after the prophet mentioned the name Evil. No one was willing to risk their lives for a child of a careless mother. I could imagine my mother crying, begging for help, yet no one is ready to help.

After a while, a man called Mr. Makena offered to help. Mr. Makena is one of the powerful men in Amari. One of the few that are known for surviving this forest. The evil forest is part of Mr. Makena. He visits this forest often and it is believed that he could speak to mermaids. He is not just powerful but he is spiritually gifted too. It is hard to think of something that he can't do, as he is also a well-known hunter. Although he is a hunter, he has many cows, sheep, goats, and chickens. He is undoubtedly one of the richest men in Amari. Along with his wealth, he has many wives and children.

In that evil forest, Mr. Makena found and brought me home. I was alive and unharmed. My father finally gained consciousness after hearing my voice. The villagers were there to witness everything and since that day people believed that one day I'm going to be the queen of Amari. That day I unofficially became Queen Zendaya.