13. My soul is old

"It's like what I've seen in shopping complexes, they really are very similar" they were like a brand new nightmare. His movements were slow and his gaze was blank, with a cold expression. "Why are they after us?" I was not afraid, I was even more curious. Was it me the one they were after? What's the reason they were after me? The ice wall started to melt every time they touched it, one of them even got past it and started walking slowly towards us.

We kept running, and I kept turning my head a few times to look at them. One of them suddenly stopped, then another followed. I didn't realize at first what they were going to do when they suddenly fell silent, and from the part of their faces, I saw what I could call a mouth. When they opened their mouths, they were able to devour a pine tree. Their mouths could open so wide, and now they looked like they were communicating with each other.

…

I sat in the living room chair, hugging my knees. I left the front door open even though the snow was starting to trickle into the house. I stared at my gate and courtyard, which was covered in a white layer of cotton, not knowing what to do next. The greenhouse I promised Winnter to take care of was now probably going to be abandoned. The clothes that I was planning to take out of the suitcase also had to stay where they were. My promise to my mother to stay in this house while I continued my studies had to be postponed. Now, I had to break all those promises one by one.

I shouldn't have promised them anything. I never thought it would end up like this. My life had changed a hundred and eighty degrees since my coming home here, early last year. I felt like I was thrown into a foreign world that forced me to think differently from what I used to.

I imagined if I hadn't taken that impulsive decision by going back to this house, would those things have happened like this? I took a deep breath, looking at that white envelope of my resignation letter. The following day would be the last day for me to go to that school.

I had told my mom that I gave up my job, and would move to another place and had to stay somewhere near my new workplace. I didn't say that I would stay at Azalea's place because that would mean I killed myself. When I talked to mom, she remained the same as before, didn't care much about me. She just asked simple questions, and then wished me to work well in my new workplace.

I had been too worried that my mother would play hard on me or forbade me to go, but she didn't. for the first time, I was grateful that mom ignored me. She didn't care much and that was my luck, I didn't feel too much pressure to decide on my next move.

And for Azalea, Mickey had taken care of it. He sent messages through his stone bird saying that I would stay in Alpha camp for a while. Azalea might not respond to it yet, but several times she had asked me to go there but I always put her down for several reasons.

"Tha? Eat!" Mickey screamed angrily, jumping on the table.

I glanced at him shortly, and then looked back to the gate out there. That creature didn't come again. Anthonie said that the mark was made by simply touching his hand to the iron gate.

"Tha!" I gestured to him to stay silent and leave me in peace without the noise for some time. "What's wrong with you? What are you thinking about?" He seemed to ignore my warnings and sat by my side instead.

I had no energy to share things with him at the moment because I was sure that I would end up listening to his advice which would be as long as a national anthem. "Nothing" I got up and took the food for that fatty bunch. And would he stop right there? No, of course not. He walked to follow me.

"Has Azalea replied to your letter?" I asked after I poured his food into the bowl, fish-shaped cat food, his favorite. Soon, he was down enjoying his meal. 'Hey!" I poked his fatty tummy. "Cut it out!" I pushed his bowl away to distract his attention. "Has Azalea replied to your letter?".

He looked at me in annoyance. His mouth was still chewing his food while his eyes were narrowing in an excessive way. "Ssstt! Let me eat first!" Sometimes I could not understand why this animal could be so irritating.

I have packed my suitcase and all the things that I would take along. Tomorrow, after meeting Summer one more time, we would head to Azalea's, Antonie said. He also asked me to go there immediately. I was also aware that the creature was after me, and if I stayed here too long, especially with its ability to even shape its body to resemble lake water like yesterday, I would be able to harm a lot of people.

Someone rushed into the house and immediately slammed the door so hard that there was a thud in the kitchen where we were in. Antonie came in panting while carrying three plastic bags that seemed to contain a lot of snacks. "Are you okay?" I couldn't guess how old he was, but surely it didn't match his look.

Antonie ate unhealthy food in large quantities. I had never seen him eating a heavy meal but spiced and sweet snacks. "You eat too many sweets. Isn't that unhealthy for a man of your age?" I meant to quip and warn, but honestly, I didn't know for sure how old he really was.

My soul is old. Body matter, I have no issues, and I can find a replacement easily. This is just a container for my spirit." Antonie said lightly as he took the scissors that were in the kitchenware near the sink. He stabbed his hand with his scissor until the blood gushed from the wound he had made. "It doesn't hurt me, I'm numb" he rubbed the wound with his palm and somehow it healed without a trace.

"If this body is damaged, I won't feel anything," he added. "And if it is really badly damaged, like the head you cut off back then, I will find a new body to replace it" I now understood why my grandmother called him a snail. The body, for him, was like a snail's house, if one day it was broken or his body grew bigger, he just needed to find another house to use.

…