THE DAY became hotter, making Yric sweat a lot. He wasn’t complaining, even though he was wearing a thick sweater. The heat would never end. But a lot of townsfolk still gathered. Wiping the sweat on his forehead, he gazed at the wide-open area in front of him. People were preparing for the parade to start, wearing their masks in distinct colors and shapes. In the very middle of the ground, bulky half-naked men carried drums attached to their hips. Their hands moved in unison. They made loud thumping sounds, filling the air while a group of women sings with their hearts out. The women wore white long dresses touching the grass.The bands looked like a cult in his eyes, which creeps him out. But he still looked at them without moving where he was standing. He ignored the lingering feeling on the back of his neck.His two friends checked the stalls near the old two-story building. He didn’t go with his friends since he felt tired all over his body.The land where the start of the parad
THE FALLING leaves lasted for a couple of seconds. Yric couldn’t help to raise his head. Most of the dried leaves flew just right on his face. He even caught one in his hand and stared at it for a moment. But the leaf didn’t stay longer on his palm. The wind blew again, carrying the leaf before it finally fell on the ground covered in dried leaves. He only turned his head to the man when Xurden started talking to him.“Did you forget what you’ve said to me?” Xurden asked him with no emotion in his voice. “You don’t want me around. Then why are you here?”Sebastian tried to open his mouth. But Xurden shot him an angry look, making the assistant stop before he could say anything. Xurden glanced back at Yric and waited for Yric to speak.Yric took a deep breath to calm himself. His heart was beating fast because of fear. He hesitated for a while. He had guessed Xurden’s answer to the favor he was going to ask.“I need your help,” Yric finally said, gathering the courage left in him. “My
THE LONG parade had driven them to the side of the small playground. The place seemed abandoned. There was not a single person there, far from the road where they came from after leaving the restaurant. The swing near the entrance was rusty and the merry-go-round next to it broke after a long time. It tilted badly on one side. Old newspapers that were blown by the winds from the trash can had scattered to the ground.They sat quietly inside the car without speaking, while the strong beating of drums boomed outside. Yric could see Xurden in the rearview mirror, who was sitting straight with his eyes closed. Xurden crossed his hands on his chest, making his arms muscle bulge more while his assistant looked happily at the passing parade from the driver’s seat. On his lips, a small smile appeared after a while. Everyone who had joined the parade walked merrily, jumping and dancing to the beat of the drums.Yric moved his head near the window to the right as he saw a boy pass the car. The
QUESTIONS flooded his mind about what was happening. Fear crawled on his skin, making his hair stand. He asked himself again what was real or not.Thinking his life was in danger, he went out of the bathroom. He found his two friends laughing lightly at the television. Noah turned his head as he walked closer to the sofa. Their eyes meet.“What’s wrong?” Noah asked vaguely. He tapped his fingers on the side of the sofa.There was something odd in his voice. He sensed no emotions in it. “Nothing. I only bit my tongue,” Yric answered, feigning ignorance.“Aren’t you going to finish the cookie?” his friend added as Yric walked at their back, going to the balcony. Noah picked up the cookie and looked at it straight.Yric turned his head. “I am not that hungry anymore,” he said.“I think you are. You said it earlier. I know it when you are hungry. Is there something bad about this food?” Noah studied the cookies in his hand, which were wrapped in plastic.“I can’t eat anymore. Don’t force
AS THE cold got thicker, Yric’s body felt numb, with his lips shaking. Xurden still fought the darkness, engulfing them. The demon was only laughing around them since he couldn’t get closer to them because of the blinding light. Hearing the laugh, Yric’s fear reached its peak. His mind had stopped running and couldn’t think of anything else other than death. “I find it funny that I will be the one now who’s going to say that you’re a fool. I know the more you stay in this world, you got weaker,” the demon rumbled with a laugh. “You’re going to die here. It’s right that I sought the witch. With her help, I finally can kill you.” After hearing what just the demon had said, they would really end up dying in that nothingness. Yric couldn’t see the demon concealed in darkness. But he clearly knew Xurden had reached his limit as the light he omitted got thinner. The man fell to his one knee, and he instantly followed, holding Xurden’s arm to hold him up. He looked at the man’s face covered
THE WIND HOWLED from the sea, bringing the coldness into the air around the houses built along the shore. It echoed in Xurden’s ear as they stood on the roof of one of the abandoned warehouses overlooking the length of white sand. Above the sky, the round moon glowed bright hiding from the thick clouds. A few blocks away from where they were, the party had started early on the rooftop of a five-story building. He could see Yric standing in the corner, even from a distance. The younger guy looked so lost holding a red disposable cup.Choosing the bar was a wise choice because he was sure the witch would continue her plan when there were a bunch of people around. Xurden knew how the witch’s mind works. The witch was confident in her abilities. That was why she would not waste a chance while Yric was alone.“Boss, I am really wondering what’s on your mind. I believe you have a solid reason that made you to agreed on helping that boy,” Sebastian muttered beside him.Xurden took a deep bre
XURDEN’S MIND stopped remembering the past when Sebastian talked loudly on his side. He blinked his eyes once, touching his head. It hurt after the climax of his memory. Taking a deep breath, he glanced at Sebastian.“What?” Xurden asked with no emotion.Sebastian pointed his hand toward the party. “Yric is gone. What happened to you, Boss? I was talking to you, but you’re not responding.”He ignored Sebastian’s question because he didn’t want to tell the truth that his memories drowned him even his wide awake.“Let’s go down now,” He said instead of answering.“But why? I am sure the witch got him. Don’t tell me this is not a mistake. You really intend to give him.”Xurden glared at his assistant. “Are you crazy? I can trace him,” he uttered before jumping off the rooftop.His clothes flapped to the wind as he go down while Sebastian followed him. He landed first on the hard cement with no sound.“How?” Sebastian asked confusedly as he stood on Xurden’s left side.“You don’t have to
THE ABANDONED TEMPLE stood on top of a hill overlooking half of the town. Silence filled the air, which gave an eerie feeling. There were no movements in the trees growing on its surface as the wind had died. The moon peeked in the back of the four pillars that were left after an earthquake many years ago.A barrier stopped Xurden and Sebastian in the middle of the stair that would take them up to the temple. It wasn’t visible to the naked eye.“I understand now why the witch chose this place,” Sebastian commented. “The witch might have thought that you will not come here because this is a sacred place. She even put on an illusion to drive away people who want to climb. Now that we’re here, I can tell the sacredness had long gone.”“It’s good that you know. I don’t have to explain everything. You stay here. I am going alone,” Xurden exclaimed as he prepared himself.Sebastian turned his head immediately. “I’ll go with you.”“I’ll go alone. You’ll just be a burden. Stay on your guard.”