went to the left.
“That’s it,” Laqiya muttered to
herself. “Let nature lead me.”
She got out the middle of the
street and ran down the sidewalk. The water led to a park with large rusty
black gates, chained and locked.
“Laqiya!” Sakura shouted.
She, Isis, and Nightshield had
caught up to her.
“We have to get in there,” said
Laqiya.
Sakura pointed to a plaque on the
stone wall. “We can’t go in there. It’s a cemetery.”
“So?” asked Laqiya.
“So it’s Halloween. This is a cemetery. A
cemetery is where dead people are. This is worse than the dancing zombies in
that video by—”
“You don’t really believe that
stuff?” Laqiya asked rolling her eyes as she tugged on the lock. “We have to
get in here.”
“Maybe there’s an ax or hammer or
something in there,” said Isis.
“But the problem is we can’t get it
in.” Sakura then said again, “Now let’s go call the police.”
“And tell them what?” Laqiya asked.
Sakura didn’t reply.
“Move,” Isis said pushing everyone
out her way. Then she backed up, took a running jump and leapt effortlessly
over the gates of the building, landing neatly on her feet.
“I’ll be back,” she said.
“What power does she have?” Laqiya
asked Nightshield as Isis walked away.
“Mind. It’s not just telekinesis and telepathy you know. She can physically do
anything her mind allows her to,” Nightshield explained.
“That’s it. What’s going on? Why is
this happening?” Sakura asked in a distinct accent, one Laqiya instantly
recognized.
“Do you speak Japanese or are part
Japanese or something?” she asked.
“Yeah,” said Sakura. “How’d you
know?”
“You speak in an accent when you
get scared,” said Laqiya.
“But how’d you know the accent?”
“I’ve been to Japan a few times.”
The loud clanging of an ax breaking
the old lock got their attention, and they turned to see Isis taking the chains
off the door.
“Come on. I know where they’re at,”
Isis said opening the gates to let them in. The gates squeaked loudly,
terrifying an already jittery Sakura.
“Adria,” Laqiya yelled as soon as
she was past the gates.
“Laqiya,” Adria yelled back.
“Keep talking!” Isis yelled.
“No don’t! You’ll disturb the
dead,” Sakura yelled trying to be careful not to step on any graves as they
went further into the cemetery.
Adria appeared in front of them
grasping Laqiya’s arms. Sakura covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her
scream and even Laqiya couldn’t help crying out.
“Are you crazy?” Isis snapped
looking like she wanted to scream herself.
“Sorry!” Adria replied.
“What happened to your hand?”
Laqiya asked seeing the blood on the other girl’s fingertips.
“I’m fine. I just put up one hell of
a fight is all,” Adria said. “They got a little too touchy.”
“Sure. Whatever. Let’s go before something bad really happens,” Laqiya said trying to pull Adria
back the way they came.
Adria shook her head. “They’re
still here.”
“Where?” Isis asked.
“Listen,” Nightshield said shushing
them all.
Three thin twisters dropped out of
thin air. Thorns and rose petals spun in them for only a second before
dispersing to reveal three young men. Beyond that, any other distinguishing
qualities were hidden by the darkness, but Laqiya had the distinct feeling she
knew them.
“Who are you?” Isis asked
uncertain.
“So ungentlemanly
of us. I’m Kailash. This is Delsaream and…”
“I’m Aurian,” Aurian disappeared
and reappeared in front of Laqiya. “We’re the Anaxars. Pleasure
to meet your acquaintance… again for some of you.”
He lifted Laqiya’s hand and brought
it to his mouth, but his lips lingered to long, his thumb caressing her hand a
little too intimately…
Laqiya snatched her hand from him
and smacked him, the sound of it shattering the ominous silence only for the
silence to return even more ominous.
“I see the feeling’s
David Cook, Walter (CON) Velez