Blue Flames

The faces of the crowd paled in terror.

There, they came to fight a mad woman but standing before them, was a threatening looking ghost.

The ghost had the figure of a tall, slender woman. Dark long hair fell entirely over her face. Slowly, she raised her head to reveal a pale, almost ashen looking face. But her black eyes were the most terrifying of all. It was wide open and seemed to be staring right through their souls.

All of a sudden, she let out a haunting scream.

That's when mayhem took over. The whole crowd, frightened terribly out of their wits, dropped their torches in panic, turned around and ran back to the woods stomping their feet like mad elephants all the while screaming hysterically.

Ahanlem was helping Tomba up, trying to escape when something flashed before them. Before she could even let out a gasp, she was grabbed by her throat once again. Ahanlem struggled with her hands and then she saw right in front of her, an ugly sunken face, glaring at her. The expression on the mad ghost was menacing and sinister. She felt like she was going to be murdered in seconds.

Tomba had fallen down during the tussled but he immediately got up and tried to free Ahanlem from the fierce grip. The female ghost angrily shrieked at him and grasped for his throat with her other hand.

But then something happened.

Just when her pale grim fingers made contact with the skin of his neck, it immediately caught fire.

And bright blue flames at that!

The ghost released her hands and immediately retreated, looking at her burning right hand with something akin to horror.

Ahanlem and Tomba were released abruptly, then both stared at it dumbly for a moment.

This turn of event was unexpected but welcoming at the hour.

The ghost looked furious and ready to attack again. Ahanlem grabbed hold of Tomba's collar as she said, "Do you have something on your body? Take it out, hurry!"

Tomba, coming to his senses, clumsily took out a protective amulet that was hung around his neck and gave it to her.

The pretty amulet chimed oddly like there was a little bell inside. It was made of some metal and looked delicate with a strange engraving carved on it. Ahanlem didn't have time to observe more. She fisted it inside her palm and before the ghost could take action against them, she dashed forward, opened her palm and pressed the amulet charm directly on its ghostly form.

A bloodcurdling scream erupted once again.

And to where the amulet was pressed onto its body; sparked kindled and the ghost was blazed and engulfed whole by a bright blue fire.

Ahanlem seized Tomba by his wrist and finally made to escape. As they were running hastily, they stumbled upon Naoba who was helping his twin brother Chaoba up.

She couldn't help but thanked their friend who didn't scram like the other cowards in her heart.

Together, all four of them accompanied each other to make their escape into the woods for the final time.

Above the sky, they could see that dawn was breaking at last, ending this long night much to their relief. Behind them, they could still hear the shrill screams and couldn't help but turned around to look.

Their eyes widened in horror. The blue flames were almost gone, the ghost was wholly covered by smoke instead which were steadily rising towards the sky.

Its ghostly form could no longer be seen.

They stood for a moment then turned back around towards home. As they drifted further away, the screams almost seemed to turn into wails until it disappeared for good.

The four of them made it out of the woods at last. They arrived in the middle of the town which was brimming with people.

When the crowd saw them coming, their expressions were full of astonishment. Soon, one person came forward and said,

"You boys are alive?! Thank goodness!"

"What about that evil ghost? Is it still there?" another said.

"We are not sure...it was burning when we left..." Naoba answered.

"Alright then. You young people have done your part. Leave it to us adults now!"

"That's right. We have consulted the top class diviner Maiba Amujao. So, everything will be alright now. You kids go tend to your wounds and rest."

Just as the man finished saying, an old man dressed in full white attire approached. His eyes sunken and face wrinkled, he looked to be about seventy. The men rushed in to greet him.

"Honourable elder, we are in dire need of your service. Thank you for coming!'

"Yes, a most unfortunate incident has befallen to our town. Please help us!"

The grim looking old man cleared his throat and said in an authoritive tone, "Lead the way!"

"Of course, of course!"

And soon the old diviner and few of the men scurried off into the woods to where the ghost was.

--

Later, under the guidance and service of the capable diviner Maiba Amujao, the menacing ghost was taken care of, for good. Or well, that was what the town people of Chengmei believed. They rejoiced at the good news and celebrations were already made in order for the night.

But Ahanlem would bet her money that the ghost was screwed for good when it made contact with Tomba's protective amulet. She can't explain how but guessed that it must have something to do with the fact that Tomba's late grandfather was a diviner of sorts. And he probably made the amulet in order to protect his grandson from such evil spirits.

Well, it served its purpose successfully.

At night, Ahanlem and the others were all gathered in the foreground of the town, where the community have their big celebrations.

A big bonfire was lit that brightened the whole area and the entire townspeople were seated for the usop, they were seated in rows forming a wide circle.

In honour of the diviner Maiba Amujao, this sumptuous feast was arranged for as well as offered to the deity of the land, in order to pray for protection against evils and for continuous peace and harmony of the town.

As everyone gathered together, their mouths opened to not only eat food but also to whisper rumours that happened about nine years ago. That time, it seemed that a small family had lived isolated from rest of the town, in that clearing. A man along with his wife and their child; they earned their livelihood by planting and gathering herbs, fruits and vegetables from the hills nearby. Other than that, not much was known about them as they were quite secluded.

But then one day, the man died falling from the height while trying to pick herbs, leaving behind his young wife and child to fend for themselves. It was unfortunate but days went by quietly until another tragic incident happened.

Some barbarous bandits came to find shelter one night during a storm, the hut where the woman and her child lived was the only hut in the area so the bandits forced their way in. Then, these barbarians brutally violated and murdered the woman without a soul to help her. Her dead body was discovered after several days by the people but her child was never found, alive or dead.

The mother was separated from her child right before her death. And thus, she died regretful, helpless and full of resentment.

After such a gruesome murder, the town became haunted; the wailing and screaming of a woman could be heard every day in the dead of the night. So much to an extent that it became unbearable, the people then implored the town head to request help from the capital and soon enough the murderers were found with great pain. Eventually, they were executed, their heads given in peace offering to the ghost and the haunting stopped altogether.

But as for the child, his whereabouts were never found. According to the assailants, the child had run away from them towards nowhere. Years later, the townspeople assumed he was probably dead given that he was only five years of age and unimaginable how such a kid could survive a terrible ordeal.

It made sense. Ahanlem remembered how desperate the ghost was for the child. After a horrible murder like that, no wonder it became a vengeful ghost.

But she was confused about one thing.

When she was on their way back home, she couldn't help but ask Tomba,

"You recognised that one mad woman, don't you?"

Tomba immediately halted in his step and stood rigid like he was caught red handed for murder. He slowly turned to her side,

"What do you mean..?"

Ahanlem sighed, "Don't pretend anymore. It's useless."

"Ah yes, it's true I've seen her before. Ten months ago, she came out of the blue and asked the same, to see my grandfather. She was going to marry and she said she wanted help because her family line didn't do so well bearing children. She needed my grandfather's guidance but I told her he was dead and couldn't help her. But the last time I saw her she was headed at that haunted place in the woods. I didn't know it then so when I suddenly met her all crazy I freaked out." Tomba confessed.

"You didn't do anything wrong but you somehow felt responsible for her, didn't you?"

"Yes, a little bit. I was very nervous.." He replied, scratching his head.

While the two were chatting, at that moment, something suddenly moved among the thick tall bamboo trees beside them in the dark.