Chapter eleven
Tears streamed down Banchy's face as she watched the video.
Seeing her parents for the first time in her life… it was too much.
"Hey… little Banchy," the man said, his voice trembling before it broke completely.
He paused, wiping his tears.
Beside him, the woman could barely hold herself together. Her hands covered her mouth, her fingers trembling as she tried to speak—but no words came out.
The man swallowed hard and continued.
"My dearest… please forgive us. We abandoned you… left you to face the world on your own."
He paused again, struggling to breathe through the weight of his guilt.
"This… is your mother," he said softly, gesturing toward the weeping woman.
"She's not well right now… but she'll be fine. Don't worry."
I glanced at Banchy.
She was completely broken.
Not the strong, smiling girl I knew… but someone fragile, someone drowning in pain she had carried for years.
Her sobs filled the van.
No one spoke.
The silence was heavy—almost suffocating—interrupted only by the low hum of the tires against the road and the quiet sound of her crying.
My chest tightened.
Before I knew it, tears blurred my own vision.
Even Mr. Reginald, sitting at the front, wiped his eyes quietly.
How could he not?
Banchy wasn't just any girl.
She was the light of Rayleigh Village. The one who made people smile without trying. The kind of person who gave, even when she had nothing.
And yet…
No one really knew what she had been through.
No one knew that beneath that kindness… there was something darker. Something she chose never to show.
A past that could break anyone.
I had only heard fragments—from Tom, the nun at the church… and from Banchy herself.
But even those fragments were enough.
Her story didn't begin at the church.
It began long before that.
Years ago…
On a cold, rainy night in Manchester, a man ran through the empty streets, cursing his decision to leave the house that evening.
The rain poured heavily, soaking everything in sight.
Just one more street, he thought. Just one more.
Then he heard it.
A cry.
Soft… weak… but unmistakable.
He stopped.
The sound came from a large garbage bin by the roadside.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then slowly, he stepped closer and pushed it open.
Inside…
Was a baby.
Wrapped in worn cloth, shivering from the cold. Beside her were two small milk pouches… and a card.
A single name was written on it.
Banchy.
The man froze.
Then, carefully, he picked her up.
He reported the incident to the police.
But the response he got was one he didn't expect.
They already knew.
And there was no space in any orphanage,no orphanage wanted to take in a new born baby,it was too risky.
So he made a decision.
He kept her.
His name was Mr. Jockins.
A harsh, lonely man with a reputation that kept people at a distance.
But to Banchy…
He was everything.
He raised her.
Fed her.
Clothed her.
Sent her to school.
He wasn't gentle. He shouted often. His temper was sharp.
But beneath all that…
He cared.
In his own way, he loved her.
And Banchy saw that.
She always did.
But peace never lasts.
Mr. Jockins was a wealthy man.
And wealth attracts enemies.
One day…
He died.
Mysteriously.
No warning. No explanation.
Just like that—he was gone.
After his death, Banchy was sent to live with his mother.
Mrs. Jockins.
For a brief moment, it felt like her life might stabilize again.
The house was large. Comfortable. Safe.
Or so she thought.
Two weeks later…
Everything collapsed.
She was arrested.
Charged with the murder of Mrs. Jockins.
At her age.
No one listened.
No one believed her.
She had no lawyer,no advocate,no one to stand by her side and the worst part she was dealing with influential people.
All because she was the heir to Mr jockins wealth.
And just like that…
Banchy was thrown into a secure children's home.
In the institution,she was rejected by everyone.
The staff treated her badly,
They stigmatized her and called her a killer.
Most children stayed away from her.
She had no friends,no family,
nothing.
Just herself in deep isolation.
She hid in the dark, while others played, crying and cursing her existence.
Not having a place anywhere at all.
Even children who killed people and boasted openly about it weren't treated the way she was.
Some even spread rumours,that she may have killed Mr jockins to get his wealth.
Sh cried everyday,got beaten up by the bigger children, whenever she stood up for herself.
The staff didn't do anything,they only, laughed and called her names.
Each day she'd end up with wounds around her body,but she didn't let that stop her,rather she adapted to their fighting style and eventually one day she dealt with them badly.
Giving them wounds they'd never forget.
But that only made things worse.
Since then the staff hated her more than ever. They stopped giving her food and treating her worse than ever.
She didn't feel regret for her actions.
She was happy.
They didn't stigmatize her anymore.
They feared her.
She was like a demon in their midst.
She spent three years at the home.
Three years of pain.
Three years of surviving, discrimination and prejudice.
Until a saviour appeared….
A new employee,who seemed to like her.
Her saviour in a black suite ,who loved children. He ensured fairness among the children treating Banchy like a queen.
But the biggest demons always hide their intentions under good deeds.
He snuck her out of the home and promised her a good life.
He took her from Manchester to New York City,to meet his family. Banchy naive as ever followed him.
The man;Mr Collins was nice to her.
He didn't shout.
He bought her a lot of things like toys,dresses and girl stuff.
Gave her gourmet meals the way Mr jockins did.
Arriving at New York Banchy realized that lovely Mr Collins actually a slave merchant.
Banchy was beyond surprised,the lovely man would do this to her.
She preferred the toture and stigma of the home to becoming a young prostitute.
Life had smiled on her.
It turns out the smile had a condition.
A good life.
But she had to be mistress.
A mistress to a rich pedophile.
It was a call to a good life.
The type of life she had with Mr jockins.
She had no choice.
She couldn't escape.
The security was air tight.
To make matters worse….
Puberty had visited her.
She was beautiful.
She knew it.
The guards eyed her.
Other girls commented her.
And many buyers bargained for her.
The price to get her was to high.
Until one day....
She was taken away.
Bought by a master.
To be a sex slave.
The man didn't just take her.
He took other girls her age.
Unfortunately on their way to the man's country side mansion.
They had an accident.
A terrible accident.
And Banchy ran away
Notwithstanding her bruises.
She ran into the forest.
In a direction she did not know.
It was her only chance of escaping.
And she took it.
She walked for days in the forest.
Sleeping in caves.
Eating leaves.
Till one rainy night…
She stumbled upon Rayleigh village.
She decided to go in the village.
And knock the church door.
It was the safest place to stay.
She told them her predicament.
And they let her in with open arms.
And in two years Banchy was the light of Rayleigh village.
Sometimes I wonder how she still remains happy.
The world had tried—over and over again—to break her.
And somehow…
She was still smiling.
Back in the van
Banchy sobs had grown heavier.
We were all crying.
Even Erico who was driving the bus,was sobbing.
"My darling daughter," he said wiping off his tears.
"We love you beyond measure, even more than you can imagine." He paused.
"Don't let anyone decieve you about us,and always remember,you are special Banchy".
"You are the most special person in the world,you're an Houlji" He paused smiling.
"Save the world would you?,trust your instincts,be happy and don't ask me how I know, I'm an Houlji remember." He said finally as the video ended.
Banchy wiped her tears, looked at me and said.
"What are we waiting for, let's go save the world".
"One more thing",Mr Reginald said cleaning his tears.
"Everything Erico said is crap".
"Wrong history!, He exclaimed.
"The History was altered!"Hr paused letting the words sink into everyone.
"How is that even possible?,"he said I doubt.
"And how is a human hunter from Earth going to tell me that the lore of my world is altered."
"What made you think I'm not from your world" Mr Reginald said smiling.
He took out a giant golden necklace from his pocket.
"Look I'm a citizen of Wolfsburg"