It was as if one of the craziest weddings in the century never happened. By the next morning, it was like no thunderstorm happened at all, though there were some muddy puddles that could make Peppa Pig happy.
Barney was under the weather with hayfever. He didn't look too pleased when he saw the two in outside clothes. Lumi was wearing jeans and a floral top. The fabric was cool to the touch. However, she was not used to how exposed her shoulders were. She did heed Barney's advice as it was indeed hot. Matthos was crouched down, tying her sneakers for her. He explained how to make the "bunny loop," which looked similar to tying a ribbon. What was the word that he often uses? "Cute?"
'Yeah, that's what he uses,' Lumi nodded and watched as Matthos took the foldable umbrella and explained that pushing the button causes it to open and collapse. He gave her an old backpack of her mother's. Its brown color matched her overall outfit. She gave a summery vibe.
Barney packed a coat for her, and even Matthos got her a Swiss knife and taser. They called it 'modern women's essentials.'
Matthos was in simple clothes. Wearing his signature white shirt, cargo pants, and white sneakers, he looked normal.
"You two look great," Barney gave them a thumbs up and then sneezed into a tissue. He didn't look too good.
"Can you truly take care of yourself for the rest of the afternoon?" Lumi asked, but he waved them away.
"I'll be fine. I took some anti-allergy meds and just need to get some rest," Barney reassured her.
"He'll be alright, Lumi. Now let's go to the park. I think you'll like the view," Matthos led her out to the house. To which Barney stood up immediately. The people found a golem in the bayside this morning.
Someone's coming here.
***
Matthos parked his car in a lot, where only a few cars can be seen. Lumi was finally used to opening and closing the doors. It was similar to that of a carriage door, and it helps ease its usability.
With Matthos beside her, they walked together in the direction of the children's playground. It somehow looked abandoned, eerie. Despite how strong the sunshine was, there was some sort of chill that surrounded the playground.
There were children there, definitely. However…
"Not all of them are alive," Matthos leaned in.
It was apparent. The beings had translucent skin even when they took human forms. You could see through them. The hair on Lumi's hands stood up as she saw how the human children played with the beings. There were even beings that looked like they died in such morbid states, playing with them as if nothing happened.
"Matthos, can I talk to this being for a while?" Lumi tugged his shirt as she saw a beautiful being with black eyes. Her clothes had so much soot that it was evident how she passed. He didn't want to stay here for long, but Lumi was curious. He smiled and looked at the playing children instead and the naive parents who were letting their children's energies be sucked dry.
"Ate," the being said in a tiny, mellow voice, "You don't look like you're from here."
"How did you—" Lumi felt a bit alarmed as when she's identified, the next thing that happens is capture, and what follows is t—
"You don't look like you're from Physma," the being said, and that made Lumi exhale. It wasn't a sort of identification. Lumi then looked at Matthos, who was only watching the scene in front of him. Then she remembered, he couldn't see beings. She felt that it would be rude to ask what aura this being had in front of her. It might offend her.
"Ate, can you sing for me?"
"No," Lumi instantly answered, "I can't sing."
"That's sad," the being sighed, "Do you know that songs can make or break anything?"
That made her feel uneasy. She didn't know where this was going.
"No. I know that songs have an impact but to create or destroy, I haven't had such experience," she said politely.
"Don't worry. One day, you will find out," the being gave a blood-chilling grin and disappeared from her sight. Matthos looked at Lumi. She was sweating cold bullets due to the encounter. The burst of red aura showed that it wasn't a simple encounter.
"Lumi," he handed her his handkerchief. She grabbed it and wiped her whole face, her eyes not forgetting the child's expression.
"She talked about a song, singing," Lumi felt alarmed, "I don't know why I feel so uneasy when songs are mentioned. Matthos, that being is telling me something."
He sighed, "There's something you need to know."