CHAPTER 3

Deep underneath, he awakens from his slumber. He punches his way out of the casket, trying to resurface.

Once again, Kala is restrained by the men.

“No more fooling around, I’ll enjoy every bit of this.” Suddenly he hears the sound of a ripped flesh behind him. He turns around slowly and sees a man dressed in an old-fashioned brown coat with a rose flower pinned to his breast pocket. His skin appears pale.

“What the hell. Get him, boys.” The others attack him, both lunging their fists at him, but their attacks seem impenetrable to his dead nerves; two long fangs protrude from his teeth. He quickly sinks them into the nape of one’s neck, quenching his undying long thirst for blood. He grabs the other by the neck and does the same. The pale stranger slowly drops his body, unveiling his painted bloodied lips and chin.

“Stay away from me," Baldie says. He pulls a pen knife from his jacket. “I’m warning you. Stay back.” The Pale stranger speeds towards Baldie, enveloping him with his dark shadow. He screams aloud as he is being ripped to pieces.

“Please don’t hurt me," Kala says. The pale one walks to kala. He looks deep into her eyes. Something restrains him from killing her. In a glimpse, he vanishes into the dark.

Later that morning, Roland and Lilija walk past the cemetery, observing an ongoing investigation, due to manslaughter by an unknown. They see a body bag been carried into a van. Kala hears her door bell ring. She tries to ignore, then it rings repeatedly, with a continuous bang on her front door. She grunts, leaving her bed. She peeps by the window and sees Roland and Lilija. Not these two! She opens the door.

“Hello! We decided to drop by and take you shopping with us. Its six days to Christmas.” Lilija jumps on Kala’s couch stretching her legs, "We all have to flow with the spirit of the festivities.” She says. Roland still at the door looks at Kala.

“What happened to you? It looks like you saw a ghost. You need some air”, he says.

“Go take a shower, and I’ll make you breakfast, then we hit the road, how about that?” Lilija says.

“I’m cool with that,” she says. In the shower, Kala tries to believe what she witnessed yesterday was merely a dream. But who would believe her story? She keeps her lips sealed. Kala comes out all dressed up in a cream coloured gown, with brown boats and a matching glove. “Beacon, egg, bread and milk, groovy!” She exclaims, as they descend on the meal. Soon, Kala gets moody again. Lililja frowns with the sudden display of emotions by Kala. She inquires, “Can we go now?”

“Oh, yea. Sure!” Kala picks up her jacket, only to toss it away.

“You’ll need that, its freezing outside.” Roland speaks.

“I’ll get a new one at the mall”, she says.

“Alright, Alright, if you say so, then let’s get going.” Lilija added.

After shopping at the town mall, Roland decides to spice things a bit. “There’s a boat cruise by the river. Why don’t we go for a ride?” He says.

“Sounds cool!” Lililja adds.

“Can I just go back home? I’m not caught up for all these. I want to be alone now.” Kala says, sounding melancholic.

“Alone? You need some alone time? You’ve got to get over it alright. Your family died in a car crash, deal with it. You are such a fun killer.” Lilija speaking.

“Lili cut it, will you?” Roland says.

“It’s alright dear.” He gives kala a warm hug preventing her from grieving, “Screw what Lili said. I think she’s on some pills. We can’t be called your friends, if we aren’t always there for you. We’re here for you always, are we not Lilli.” He says.

“Yes, we are…, am sorry.” She says hugging Kala

“Can we go now please?”

“Alright?”

“Yes.” Lilija jumps, rejoicing.

“Let me have your bags”, says Lilija. Kala responds, “But, they will be too heavy for you to carry.” “Don’t worry I’ll manage.” Lilija walks ahead of them, pacing in haste to the cruise.

Kala sits by the edge of the boat while Lilija and Roland take random photos trying on their new hats. Kala starts having a reoccurring flashback of last night’s episode; from the party at Roland’s house to her attempted rape in the cemetery and sees the Pale stranger slaughtering her assaulters. She takes out a can of spirit drink from one of the bags, walks to the other side of the boat facing town; she takes a sip and looks at the people standing by the bank of the river. Suddenly, she sees the pale one. She blinks and looks to the crowd again but he isn’t there, like he vanished into thin air. She takes a look at her drink and throws it into the river.

“That was one fast high.” She says.

“Wow! That was fun! Lilija screams.

They are back on shore. They walk Kala back to her apartment before leaving.

“See you soon”, they say.

Kala sees a white Persian cat at her door step. “Am not in the mood Karina”, she says, as she picks up the cat and walks to her neighbours door. “Mrs. Kim, are you at home?” She knocks on the door repeatedly, knowing her door bell was out of order. Mrs. Kim opens the door. “Your cat, take her," Kala says.

“There you are, you fuzzy little thing. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Mrs. Kim holds on to her clutches, refusing to take hold of her cat.

“Come on in, and have some tea. As an old friend of the family, you seem to avoid me a lot. Why?” She asks.

“I’m just being busy lately. Honestly!” Kala says.

“I couldn’t help but notice you sneaking into your own apartment at about 12:45 AM. You care to share what happened.” Kala seems surprised.

“Yes dear, I saw it all. What’s the matter sweetie?” Mrs. Kim adds.

“Nothing ma,” says Kala.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m certain, I have to leave now”, Kala says. She proceeds to the door. Suddenly, Mrs. Kim falls into a seizure. She tries reviving her back with her pupils appearing pale. She knows she is far gone. Christ, why does it have to be me? She cried. She quickly tries to dial the emergency number.

“I see good fortune coming your way, but your soul is in grave danger, the pale one, the dark witch, they both come for you.” Mrs. Kim speaking, soon, she snaps out from her seizure.

“What did I say?” Mrs. Kim asks.

“I didn’t hear a thing, you said.”

“Everything will fall into place in due time. Run along.” Mrs. Kim speaks.

Kala hurriedly leaves the apartment. Her emotion lying between confusion and fear, she shuts the door behind her and leans on it. “Freaky!”