Chapter 3

"There is a truth deep down inside of you that has been waiting for you to discover it,"

I don't know why I'm here. A place where the sunshine is very high, it’s not like our town. In Dako Paroon the sun doesn't seem to rise, it's always dark, even at noon or 3 pm, you can't see the sun in the sky.

I took a walk to find out where I was, but my feet only took me to a park, here I was with a family happily eating. Their two children are still scrambling for candy, while their parents are laughing out loud.  

“Aricka, Louelle, enough of that. You’ll hurt each other,” when the woman said that who I think were their mother, I was shocked. It’s Mama. The strong wind makes her long hair dance, the wind also blows away the smell of her clothes. The usual scent of rose.

Suddenly my chest tightened because of what I am seeing. I didn't notice that my tears were already falling. I miss them so much. I hope I don't wake up just to be locked up here with them.

With my family… Even though it is just a dream.

“Kids, come on, if you eat too much candy your teeth will fall,” Papa jokingly said. And the little redhead girl instantly threw away all of her candies. As the boy ate and ate his candies.

I remember it now, Louelle's baby teeth were almost gone, some fell of and some cracked. While my baby teeth were intact, and were only gone when they were replaced with permanent teeth. Kids at school would tease him, and he would tell other kids that I was really just wearing dentures, that mine was even worse.

That’s where my annoyance with him started, which I still carry to this day.

Dad got up, and Louelle immediately chased after him. There were even a few times when he almost fell, I can just really laugh. When Papa and Louelle were in the river already, Mama and I talked, I mean with the little girl.

“Mom, do you hate me because of my skin color and red hair? Because I am different?” Mama sighed heavily, and then she smiled at the young Aricka.

“No, I always like your skin color and red hair, my baby. You bring us luck, you and Louelle, and I'm thankful that you're both growing up kind,” Mama said, while stroking young Aricka's hair.

Even if I am just watching I couldn’t help but feel her caresses my hair. As if she was holding me and not that child.

“When you grow up, you will also understand everything, my baby. You will know how many people loves you, the ones who really love you. And Helga will always watch over you,” I didn't quite understand what Mama said. When suddenly everything I could see collapsed, and then I woke up.

When I awoke, Michelle was no longer beside me. I got up and searched the condo for her, but she seemed to have abandoned me once more.

If Charles ever comes here, I won't have to be afraid of him. To begin with, he has no idea that I am Michelle's ex-girlfriend, instead, he believes I am her best friend. Second, he is completely unaware of this condo, thus it is essentially mine and Michelle's s*x place. Third, it's fine if he kills me, I want to die anyway.

I thought about taking a shower, so I prepared my clothes, and since I have my own clothes here, I never had trouble finding what to wear. I took my time in the shower, knowing that the sticky substance on my skin wasn't sweat. I remembered the book I obtained from Mama's old house when I was done. So while waiting for my hair to dry, I made something to eat so that I could read the book. 

While cutting onions for my nachos, I am singing along to my favorite song of Taylor Swift, Enchanted. I know it will be messy to eat nachos while reading a book that might be older than me, but I don't care. Eating a girl is also messy but we are both liking it. Do you see my point?

"I will reclaim you,"

I almost jumped when I heard that. "Babe? Is that you?" I look around to see if Michelle is here, but she's not. Her condo is studio type, she can't hide if she is here.

"What the f*ck, whoever you are, stop messing with me. It's not funny." I said with a threatening tone, hiding the fact that I am already scared and that hearing that voice sends me chills. 

As I speed up the making of the nachos, I can’t forget the voice I hear. That’s like what I heard before I boarded the bus earlier.

Do my relatives haunt me because they see everything I do? Or is it that Death is picking me up because I'm having so much fun with my life?

Since I no longer liked the things running through my mind, I intensified my music even more, until I could no longer even hear my voice. 

I had almost forgotten what had happened before, the voices and my dream, when I heard a loud crash from the bed. My eyes immediately widened in shock.

"What is it?!" I shouted angrily. I’m really disgusted, why now when I’m really alone! “If you’re a ghost, you can’t get anything from me, I can’t help you!” but I was only stunned again with a sudden thud.  

"Ahhhh!" I just froze while hiding behind the countertop. What the f*ck! Am I really haunted?! Why me?! Sh*t, I still don't know how to pray!

Got up, Aricka, no one else will help you but yourself, I told myself. Am I right? I have to look at what's causing that noise, because maybe it's just a rat. That's right, I'm going to stand up.

Although my knees were shaking, I forced myself to stand up and slowly approach the bed. The first thing I saw was my bag was already on the floor, it was open and my belongings, including the book, were scattered. I let out a sigh.

"It's just your bag, Aricka," I said, relieved. One by one I picked up my belongings that were now scattered on the floor. Annoying, how come it fell?!

I got everything, except for the book that was still under the bed. I immediately lay down to see where it was, and when I saw it I immediately picked it up. I was about to put it back in the bag when it suddenly opened and warmed up.

There was some light coming out of it so I was dazzled. I tried to close the book, but it seemed to have a life of its own, it resisted me. Fear began to creep into me as the book got hotter, if I couldn’t let it go I would burn out.  

“Ma, help me!” I cried. I know Mama can’t help me but she is still the person I would call if I need help.  

Gradually the light that illuminates the book grew as it got hotter. I cried incessantly because of fear and pain. I no longer knew what was happening, when suddenly the book fell from my hand at the same time as I fell.

I seem to have lost all my physical strength. I forced myself to crawl to get away from this place, but I couldn’t get away. The light eventually enveloped the entire condo until I saw another place when I woke up.

A dark place where fire is the only source of light. I held my breath for fear that I would be noticed by anyone who lives here. I'm still as weak as before, and I hold back my tears because they might just hear my sobs.

I hurried to hide behind a large rock. The silence was deafening so I was even more scared for my life. I don't think I can go out anymore, I think I'm exhausted.

I was still thinking of a way to escape, when a loud scream enveloped the whole place from the seemingly wounded man. My muscles started to tremble more.  

“Helgaaaaaaa!”