I turned around and slammed the door open. I ran through the hallway and ran over to Oakland park. Maka was following me. She had known someone was going to die, just not sure who.
I gaze around. I see Jia standing there and a few of my mom's work brought together to mourn for one of our own.
Countless dark figures stand on parade, some unrecognizable people, probably some distant relatives, speaking in unison to pay their respects to whom we adore.
The sadness corrupts my inner soul, and my heart bleeds a river inside. Nothing could change the wretchedness I feel.
We leave, what seems to me not a holy church, but more of a devil's palace. But the worst is yet to come. Still shedding tears, I climb into the hearse, my eyes fixed upon the nobleman in the back in the vain hope that there would be life in him once again. It is useless.
I stare outside in the most profound depression, worrying about the road that lies ahead. Our car reduces speed, and the driver climbs out. I think, "This is no gate," a gate would be a remarkable gift to me right now. The only thing I can do now prays and hope.
To pray that I will not have to go through this anguish, suffering, and endless hell once again. In one sudden movement, my hopes and dreams are crushed into minute pieces of terror and misery as the hearse driver opens the door.
Resistance is pointless. We are already here. A foot away from the gates of fire. I push open the gate upon its rusty hinges.
Though I know cemeteries are supposed to be depressing and solemn places, this is out of the ordinary.
I am welcomed by an old, decrepit yet elegant chapel that has been abused by weather and man but preserved and decorated by Mother Nature. Ivy droops over the freestanding wall and fades into the rubble and ruins.
Through a slight crack in the wall, I see the remains of a derelict altar. I continue picking up my weary feet off the grassy surface from under them. They are comforted by the pleasantness of a spongy carpet of autumn leaves—a mosaic of infinite colors.
A mild breeze slithers past my face and cools me as we enter a kingdom of beauty. Jia, I remember mom's words. "Take care of your sister."
I feel anger within me. What did she do to deserve this? Clenching my fist, I look around. It's incredible at birth; people celebrate at death, they moan, and throughout your life, they don't bother. Who are all these people?
I think to myself, Jia is standing with Maka, wearing black hair, a black top, a formal black skirt, and leggings. I am tired of these lies. Why didn't she tell me my mom was going to die? There is no doubt she knew.
I look around. No one is recognizable other than Maka, and these strangers look at me as if I am the outsider at the wrong funeral.
"I miss you, mom. I am going to find the person who did this to you."
I was under seventeen, and they would move us to orphanages and separate Jia and me. Mom's words were, "stick together no matter what," was that why she was pushing me to be independent because she saw this coming?
Jia walked over to me, taking my hand and letting me stand beside Maka.
Is this just some nightmare? First, my dad ran off, and now my mom was in a coffin and was only 40.
Maka looks up and glances at me. I see a vein standing out on her neck and feel a sudden thirst. I can't now.
There are too many people around.
My hands are sweaty my heart starts racing. I take a slow deep breath in as I breathe out. Everything around me feels too much I can hear the whispers, the sounds from afar, their thoughts, their heartbeats. It feels as if everything around me is spinning. Maka glances over; she could somehow sense I'm not okay.
Maka looks down at Jia and looks across, and sees an old lady standing who looks like she is in her late seventies. Maka takes Jia's hand and walks over to the lady, "would you mind keeping an eye on her? I need to use the bathroom."
"Sure," says the lady; she looks relatively poor with her old rag-brown scarf over her head, a thick brown Jacket, and old broken shoes with skin as wrinkled as a raisin.
Maka then walks to me, takes my hand, and walks to the bathroom. She then rolls up her sleeve holding out her wrist, "there, drink."
I looked at her, feeling skeptical. Delicious as this smells, I was nervous until she took her left hand and ran her fingers through my hair, "you need this," I looked into her eyes and gently synced my lips to her wrist and bit into it. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief. The spike of pain through her skin with my razor-blade sharp teeth was intensely satisfying.
I sucked gently, then harder and harder. She breathed deeper in, pushing out her chest as she scratched her nails over my back, moaning softly. She felt alive as I did when I sucked on her wrist. She pulled my hair as she caught up with her breath, "thats enough, Kai." it's as if I had not heard her, "that is enough."
I sucked harder, "Kai!" she screamed.
I looked up at her with my bloody mouth as the blood dripped onto the concrete ground. I stopped and looked up, remembering it was a funeral. The yellow stone glowed brighter than the blue one. Maka moved closer, surprised. "The yellow stone has not glowed in years."
"What does the red mean?"
Maka looked at me, puzzled, "how are you feeling?"
"I am fine. Why do you ask?"
Maka placed her hand on my chest.
Everything felt normal, "No, I am just asking."
"But there is something you are not telling me. How did you know my mom was going to die?"
Maka looked surprised, "I never knew your mom was going to die, Kai."
"But you knew someone was going to die? Didn't you?"
"Yes, Kai, I thought you were in danger."
"Why would I be in danger?"
Maka looked around, then at me, "to keep those stones glowing, you will need a pint of blood every second day."
"I'm confused. This is too much to wrap my head around."
"The stones will light up as you gain power, Kai. You are the Alpha wolf."
I narrowed my eyes, "a what?"
"An alpha wolf. When I saw you being picked on, it reminded me of my situation. I had no one. Your body will change. You will level up at every hundred pints of blood."
"Level up?"
"Yes, abilities to become stronger and faster. You will find others like you with your levels, but you are the chosen one."
"Chosen one?"
"I can't go into detail with that. We must get back to the funeral before suspicion comes our way."
I feel hydrated, my body feels like it has more control, and I now have a purpose for living, but the asshole who did that to my mother will pay. He will pay with his life. I felt anger within me, which I have never felt before.
I heard the rain pouring down and the thunder roaring like a defensive lion. I straightened my suit and looked around this crowd of people who looked like they had just gotten out of bed and got dressed.
It always amazed me how people could dress up for one occasion. I could hear heartbeats and the smell of rusted metal around me. I looked around and saw my baby sister sitting next to that old lady.
That old lady, who is she?
I had never seen her before, so I moved closer and sat next to Jia. Maka entered shortly after me and sat beside me.
Thoughts were going through my head, and my palms felt slightly sweaty as I opened my hand and placed my palm on my knee. The material of my pants absorbed the moisture in my sweaty palms.
I looked down at Jia, who had not noticed her surroundings. She sat there listening to the priest, holding her teddy. Soon we will have social services knocking at our door, and I need a plan fast.
I then remembered Jia would need to eat and have a roof over her head. Maka glanced over at me as if she could read my mind.
Did she just read my thoughts? She gave me that reassuring look. It will be okay. Maka had placed her hand on my other knee. I wonder if her hands were also sweaty.
Her soft touch sent shivers through my body. It was like jumping into a swimming pool with cold water. My thoughts were blank for that moment, all I felt was calmness, that's when I suddenly saw everything flashing in front of me. I could see what she had known already.