I then remembered my mom had Holly water. I started to look for it and finally found its bottle in the nightstand drawer.
Turning to face them, I didn't find their statues there. They were all gone. "Unbelievable! Where have they gone? They are still statues and can't walk from here. How did they just disappear and why? Are they dead or something?" I wondered."Am I imagining things? But no am not, my parents are really gone." I dropped the bottle of Holly water and ran outside to look for them. They were not there either. Where could I search for them?" I asked myself." No need dear. We are here." My mom's voice interrupted my thoughts. I couldn't believe it at first so I had to look behind me to first confirm if she was the one.Indeed she was the one. I was so shocked but couldn't stop myself from running to them and hugged both of them. They were alive. But how did all this happen? How did they come back to normal and who helped them? I got so many questions in my mind. I needed to know what was behind the whole story but how?" What happened my dear, why do you seem worried?"mother asked as if she knew nothing about what happened to them." I can't believe this, they even don't know what has just happened?"I talked to myself. Anyway thank God that they are back and don't remember anything. I got relieved to hear that they don't know anything."Tell me please. Why are your eyes so red? It's like you have been crying." Mom spoke again." It's nothing mother. A bug has flown in my eyes, that's why I look like l have been crying." I made an excuse.We entered the house but to my surprise, dinner table was already set. Who could have done this, that too he/she has prepared what I wanted to prepare for dinner. I got so much scared but had to pretend as if nothing was going on. I had to pretend as if am the one who has prepared the meals."Your meals are so delicious. I like this aroma. You never cooked like this before, how did you prepare this?" Mom was being questionable.
" My mom wasn't at home. I was here alone. No one else was here and I didn't see anyone preparing meals. Where did it come from?"I wished to share this with my parents but I knew they wouldn't believe me and that would bother them which I didn't want.I had to find out by myself but how?After our meals everybody went to sleep and I felt like there was someone in my room though I couldn't see him or her. "Why are you scared of me. Show yourself if you are so brave." I wanted to provoke that person to show him / herself to me but it's like my trick didn't work on her.After a few minutes, a strong wave of wind blew in my room and then an old woman stood in front of my mirror with her face covered by her long grey hair.Trying to see her face, she warned me."Don't even bother because you won't see me unless I let you to." She said with a smiling face. Her voice was so nice but she sounded rude to me." Who are you and why are you here?"I asked sounding scared."You don't have to worry about me. You are going to know me very soon. In fact you will know the real me tomorrow." She said smiling again. Maybe it was her habit to smile over everything. I got confused."Won't you leave my room, I need to sleep." I asked."Are you requesting or you are demanding? It's like you don't know who you are talking to." She said."I am really sorry."I said panicking."But anyway it's okay. I will let you sleep."she said and disappeared."Thank God she has left but who is she and what does she want. Why did she choose my room?"I got puzzled but I was feeling so sleepy.After switching off the lights, I heard like footsteps coming towards my bed, I then switched it on to check.
"Oh God! When will all this end?"I asked myself. I didn't see anyone in the room so I tried to sleep again but this time I left lights on.Feeling like falling asleep, I heard someone trying to cover me properly but when I opened my eyes I didn't see anyone. "Could it be my imagination? But no this blanket wasn't here. I had placed it on the couch but it's now here on the bed. This proves that someone else is in the room but who could it be this time?" I then felt it was high time I informed my parents about what was going on with my life. Coming closer to my parents'room I saw the same old woman standing next to their room, I stood there shocked. I thought she had left our house but she was still in here. I started walking in reverse."She suddenly disappeared and appeared in front of me and whispered in my ears."Where do you think you are going? This is not good for you please. I advise you to go and try to have some sleep because the end results of this might not be good for you and your family."she warned and then I went back to my room and closed the door, laid down on the bed and started to think about what I have just seen. It felt like a lie but surely I had seen everything but I knew it would be difficult for my parents to believe in me.Thank God that sleep took me off.Opening my eyes I saw light coming from the window, it was morning already but I still felt sleepy and yet I didn't want to make my parents worried. I then woke up, had a warm shower and got ready for the day.It was like at midday, both my parents were outside the house having a wonderful conversation as a couple when the strong strange wind blew and there appeared an old woman.
Hearing that strange wind blowing outside, I remembered the last time I heard the same wind and how an old woman appeared from nowhere. I was certain that the same old woman has come so I ran outside to witness. Yes my suspicions were right. It was the same old woman.When I was about to step out of the house, I remembered Dad's warning. He never wanted me to step out of the house but the situation outside was urgent. Without thinking much about, I just ran outside and joined my parents."Run back to the house please Artie." Dad said with a warning tone. Hearing that, I walked two steps backwards. My heart was telling me to refuse to Dad and keep outside. I followed my heart and ignored dad's words. I thought that maybe they were hiding something from me. Maybe this old woman has unfinished business with them and they don't want to let me know about it. I felt like losing my trust in both of them. Thinking all this, I stayed at the scene to find answers for my questions."It's you again. Why have you come here now?" My mom spoke rudely to the old woman. " This is serious, these people knew this woman?" I spoke to myself wondering if this is possible or maybe it's just a dream.
"Easy ma'am. The other time I was here to inform you about the good news but this time I have come with incredible news ever."she had an annoying way of answering the questions raised for her."What's that incredible news?"Dad finally spoke out."I said easy." She said."Tell us or just get lost."mom was losing patience. She couldn't wait any longer."I will tell you if you are both insisting. Well the thing is that "what was meant to be will finally be no matter what happens". She said and gave a heavy laughter I had ever heard all my life. Without realizing, she was gone. No one understood what she said and what she was trying to tell us.My Dad and I just took her words lightly but Mom couldn't. Maybe she was being so protective for me.After two weeks the same heavy wind blew. We all ran outside as we were sure that the same old woman has come back. Indeed she had returned back but why this time?" You must all be wondering why I have come back. Yes I know it all because I can read all your thoughts but anyway am not here to explain all this to you. I am here on a serious note. I have come to explain my previous message to you. I remember I told you that "what was meant to be will finally be no matter what happens". I meant that your precious daughter will get married to the devil's son no matter what happens. No matter how much you try to stop this from happening, it will finally be, that I promise you. The last time I said this you all didn't understand me so I felt it's necessary to come and explain it to you." She laughed at the end of her scaring speech and disappeared."I knew I was right about this that's why I didn't take it lightly. I knew this old woman meant something connected with my daughter and the devil's son but I was not sure that's why I didn't tell you about my suspicion." My mom was shivering and sweating at the same time.
Due to much fear, we decided to shift to the city that was far away from the jungle. From there we started living a new life. I met so many friends. I liked our new home because I wasn't kept inside the house anymore but my parents kept a close eye on me and sometimes my movements were limited for some reasons and I could understand why.Six months elapsed and I fell in love with a young good looking boy. He was from a different city. He was the CEO and the owner of JB company LTD which was prestigious in their city. His company had a branch in our city. Maybe he liked me because I was local and shy. Maybe I looked beautiful for him. Maybe he liked my ways because I always smiled at everyone who bypassed our new home. I was new to the city so I used to sit alongside the road to count cars regardless of my age. I still behaved like a child. I was used to seeing trees in the jungle through the window and now I was in the city.Since my parents were in a hurry to get me married before the devil's son could, we started arranging for the wedding ceremony after five months of our relationship.
In the past five months, we got to spend time with his family members and we had confirmed he was a son of a man. We had forgotten about the monster. We believed I was already out of danger as things were going on smoothly and the old woman never appeared again. My parents were so happy that they made a best choice to shift from the jungle to this city but as for me I was always lost in thoughts about my friend Bat. Maybe he was so angry with me for accepting to leave the jungle and come here because he never showed up ever since we got here not even in my dreams. I guessed something was fishy but had no choice but to learn to live without it though it was so hard for me to deal with.The night before my wedding I got a dream about my friend Bat. In the dream my friend was crying."Artie I know you are going to get married tomorrow and I know it's too late for me to change your mind but I can't fail to tell you that I love you so very much. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you in the jungle. I knew expressing my feelings to you would complicate things so I had to first befriend you. And when you told me you wanted a tattoo on your body, I tried to get you one but failed and I ended up entering your body to be like a tattoo on your back because am capable of doing anything in this world. I only entered your body not because I wanted to but I just wanted to make you happy. Your happiness has been my priority. That's even why I allowed you to fall in love with the guy you love because I could control you but I didn't do that. I only wished to see you happy always but I never thought I would lose you to someone else due to my ignorance. But anyway it's okay but so hurting to see a girl you wished to be with slipping out of your hands to someone else.Am not saying all this to confuse you please Artie. I just want you to know that someone else is in silent love with you and he is willing to fight for you no matter what happens." He said while crying.
" What are you saying dear friend. I thought you are a mere Bat. How could you fall for me. Am not a bat." I said sounding shocked."I knew you would say that but to be honest with you I'm not a bat. I can change myself into anything I feel like." " W-what?""Yes I mean every word of mine and if you really want me to prove myself to you, I have no problem with it. I can gladly prove myself to you." " Okay prove yourself." I really wanted to see if he was telling the truth." But you will have to feel some little pain as I will first find my way out of your body." He said. After like a second, my tattoo started to glow producing a bright light I have ever seen but this time I didn't feel any pain.When the lighting was over, a bat appeared in front of me and started to sing a familiar song "hi hi hi". This reminded me the first time I met him in the jungle and became my first friend. I looked back to hide my tears from him."Did you like the song?" His voice interrupted my thoughts. Looking back to see him, there stood a handsome guy and I couldn't resist but to open my eyes widely and have a clear look at him.He was incredibly handsome and if it wasn't for my wedding the next day, I would have fallen in love with him at first sight."Who are you?" I asked since I couldn't believe it was my friend Bat."It's me your friend. Don't run away. You wanted me to prove myself and I have done it but I see you are thinking of running from me."He said coming closer to me."Don't come close to me. Stop right there."I said walking two steps backwards but he didn't listen to me. Instead he kept coming closer and closer to me. To realize, there wasn't any space between us. I was already in his arms. Still wondering what to do next, I felt his soft lips on mine. It was a cool and first kiss of my life. I knew it wasn't right but I couldn't stop myself from wanting more.
Maybe I was getting insane because I held him tight and this sent him a message that I wanted more. So he gave me what I needed. It felt so good though not right. It was considered a sin according to our culture. Thinking about this, I pushed him away and that's when I woke up and realized it was just a dream.Though it was a dream, it still felt like real but I just ignored it since I was getting married the next day. On the day of the wedding,I was wearing a heavy makeup that brought out my beautiful face. I was looking extremely beautiful in a long white wedding gown. It was my day but I wasn't feeling happy at all since I was lost in thoughts about the dream I had last night. "Is it true that my friend Bat is in my body. How can this be possible? Is it true that he isn't a bat? Can it be possible that he changes to anything he needs to change to?"these were the questions that ran through my mind on the day of my wedding.I thought of looking at my tattoo. It was there but what
"I need to use the bathroom."I excused myself but before I could go upstairs,the other woman who addressed him as her son blocked my way." Where are you going dear. It's not right for a bride to look back after her wedding ceremony. In fact let's go home right away." She said.For a moment my heart skipped a beat, my eyes got flooded with tears as I imagined how life without my parents would be like.I knew life wasn't going to be the same. I would miss them so much. Moreover I didn't know if these people would ever let me go and see them again." Thanks for everything Mr Smith and your family. We shall take your leave." She said these words as we walked to the car. My husband opened the door for me, before I could get in the car I got a strange feeling. I turned back to look at my parents for the last time but that didn't seem enough for me. I ran to them and hugged them both."I will miss you so much,"I cried when they responded back "we will miss you too darling."I walked slowly
"You said you wanted to go back home and I can't take you back there because I still need you as my wife. How can I take you back home on the first night of your marriage." He sounded disappointed."Take me with you. Am willing to go with you?"I hurried to say."Have you accepted me as your husband or not? I can guess you have just agreed to go with me because you can't go home all alone in this darkness." He said smiling."Exactly" was all I replied."Well. Come hold me tight and we go." He chuckled softly as he stretched his arms."Hold you?" I looked confused."Yes, you heard me right. Hold me and we go. Remember I have no car with me anymore. I have destroyed it when you refused to go with me but thank God the lion made you scream my name." He teased. I had no choice but to wrap my arms around him before we left.Like that, we were already somewhere in a place that looked like a desert, it was very hot like fires of hell."Where are we?" I asked when he landed." This is our land.
Without realizing, my lips had curved for a smile. I then remembered that I shouldn't be smiling no matter what happens. This man is already on my bad side so I should be acting as an enemy to him.Checking on my tattoo, it was there. " Am so sorry my dear friend. I regret refusing your proposal the other night but how was I going to say yes when you only visited me in my dreams? It's all my fault, and sometimes I think that maybe am cursed. Bron left me at the altar without saying any word to me and for that matter I had to marry this stranger who is more like an animal. Can you please tell me what's wrong with me. I know you can hear me and please if you can take me back home." I talked to my tattoo but my friend Bat ignored me." Are you angry with me? Don't ignore me like this at least say something. Abuse me if you want to but don't just keep quiet." Still there was no response from him.Coming back to my room, Anu was already asleep on the bed. Maybe he was pretending to be asl
"What are you trying to tell me. Go straight to the point."he said pinning my hands to the wall. "This is what I meant." I whispered. "What?" "I don't want you to touch me nor do anything to me before I give in wholeheartedly."I whispered again. " It's okay if that will make you happy."he said confusing me. "Are you a good person or you are just pretending?" I asked myself confused. How could he just agree with me over something like this so easily? Does he have other plans?" I asked myself before he said "but on one condition"."What condition?"I asked curiously. "I have to mark you first, to make you mine and after that you can torture me the way you want."he said looking me in the eyes still pinning my hands on the wall. I tried to push him back but couldn't. "W.what do you mean by that?" I couldn't compose a sentence because of what I have just heard."I will have to bite you with my fangs anywhere on your body and suck a little of your blood."he said."What? Do you think I can a
"Anu please am so sorry. I have heard that you are in this condition because of me and I don't want to cause you any pain but am really mad at you, you never told me about this. You didn't tell me that you sometimes change to a lion. Am your wife and am supposed to know everything about you, my husband."I cried and didn't realize that I was getting closer to him and I wasn't scared anymore. Maybe I was spellbound or compelled to. He came back to his human form when I touched him."Why did you tie me up?" He asked and his words got me emotional and tears ran down my cheeks."I.. I.. I just wanted us to play..." "Shuuuhhh! Don't lie please. I know everything, wife. This is not the first time am tied up here with these chains and don't blame yourself for anything, am the one at fault here and not you. Don't mind my mom's words and don't take it to heart please."he cried as well."Why did you change? And what does it mean?" I asked in a soft voice."It's nothing serious, don't worry." He
"Were you cheating me in your dreams? Who was he?"he joked. "No. I mean nothing."I panicked as I recalled his threats to me."Don't worry about him please. Take a deep breath and relax. I will handle everything, okay?" I nodded and laid down again but this time I didn't sleep, I just pretended to be asleep not to make Anu worried."Why have I dreamed about mother in a strange way? Does this mean she can help me out of this? But how, she is an ordinary human and these people here are the living monsters. How will she save me from them? While thinking about all this, I remembered I had to check if mother has sent me a feedback on Anu's phone. Looking around for it, I saw it next to him on the couch below his arm. "Oh God! How will I get it from there without waking him up? Help me Lord."I breathed. Just like that the phone slided down and fell on the floor. With fear for what has just happened, I walked two steps backwards wondering if his phone has heard what I just said. How would i
I then remembered mother's words to not let him come close to me and then got out of the bed and sat at the end of it. I was still sleepy and scared too. I couldn't sleep on the couch alone. I just left everything in the hands of the Almighty and slept.Morning came with blue and pinky skies. It was a beautiful morning, mother had promised to meet me but I didn't know how. I just waited for the miracle but couldn't see any sign of her coming. Slowly by slowly I started to lose hope when the sun set before she could reach me. "Why is she taking so long? Anyway how do I expect her to find me when she doesn't know where I am, am so stupid." I walked up and down waiting for her. I asked one of Anu's guards to shift my seat and bring it near the window because I wanted to see whoever entered the gate since I wasn't allowed to leave the house without Anu's permission. Soon darkness covered the place and I couldn't be able to see clearly. After sometime the guards closed the gate, I couldn't
My heart jumped with joy and happiness after reading the letter. I couldn't wait to see my father again. I couldn't find sleep since my mind was very busy imagining how the surprise would be like..It was approaching to four o'clock in the morning when my heart skipped a beat and my mind went blank. I thought that maybe I was very excited to share the news with the family so I had to wake up and make noise through singing so that everyone's sleep could be interrupted and it really worked. Everybody woke up with a frowned face because they were angry with me at the moment."I have good news for you all.. I meant to say that father has called us all. He said he wants to surprise us."I said with a big smile."What's wrong with you? When did you see him?"Anu couldn't believe."Read this. I don't have to meet up with him in order to communicate with him, we're demons after all."I sighed."Read it for us Anu. Am sure Artie isn't joking about this, right Artie?"Nikki said."It's true Grandpa
"But who had possessed you and why?"Nikki asked."I'll tell you later. What's very important right now is to conduct this ritual and let them inside first."she said."Alright then. But how will you do the ritual when the holy water isn't enough. I meant to say that there are only five Jerry cans of holy water yet they're....."he pointed."I think we'll have to seek help from the witch's tree once again."she looked to be lost in thoughts as she spoke."What are you waiting for then."Mother then tried to summon the witch's tree but in vain. We thought that maybe it was because of our presence and she had to walk away from the crowd but again the tree didn't show up.A minute later, a twig came and fell on my head and turned into a rocket immediately. It was the same rocket that Carlos gave me. I had left it at the ocean bank hoping that he'd one day collect it from there because I had no hopes of seeing him again. Moreso I didn't want to keep it as it would remind me of the best momen
After some time, the other three woke up too. Mani immediately recognized me however his brother Manu just stood there, staring at me as if I was a stranger. "How are you mother."Mani hugged me. I couldn't answer because I was driven away by thoughts and sorrow. "My own son doesn't recognize me?"I breathed deeply before looking him in the eye. "Manu dear, don't you know who I am?"I asked politely. I didn't want to force things."I know you very well. I know how you left dad and I and disappeared. You don't love me at all. Dad might've forgiven you but I... I will never forgive you for neglecting me like that. You're the reason why I went through all this."he said and for a moment my mind went blank. I didn't have what to say to him or how to explain things to him. I just stared at him, speechless."Manu dear, it's not like how you think. Your mother loves both of you equally. I agree she left us but trust me when I say that she did what was right at the moment. She wanted to save y
On opening it, I couldn't stop crying because of what was written there, ' best friends forever'."You'll forever be remembered my dear friend."I said.The girls did their best to put me in good mood but my worry for my family was too much. "Don't worry ma'am, am sure that cousin of yours will help you and very soon your family will come back."Remi comforted."I don't think he'll, after all he's a horrible person. He's a murderer remember and I don't trust him at all."Rema pointed sharply."How can I explain to you that Carlos is only a pure soul and he would never think of killing someone no matter what. He only took the blame for my sake."I thought. "I think we should trust him once, let's see if he can do something good for anyone."I said."As you say madam. And anyway ma'am, do you mind if we call you auntie because to me you're like my real auntie.""Of course I won't mind at all. You're my little angels and angels should only be loved and nothing else. It's okay you can call me
"Why won't you dear?"he asked politely."Because the woman you're going to propose to is already married.""Ohh! You're right about that but you've forgotten that her husband is dead now which makes her single."he lied."Why do I have a feeling that you're lying to us? My mom always said that when someone is telling a lie, he can't look you in the eye and that's what you're doing."one of them pointed. This made me notice something about the two of them, one was introvert and the other was the opposite. She was so talkative I must say."Where's your mom's corpse?"I asked them."We're sorry madam. We conducted the last rituals by ourselves. We knew you were going through a lot that's why we never came to bother you.""I don't believe you, someone else must have helped you because I don't think you could do all that alone.""But we did madam."she said raising a brow."What made you disappear after healing my husband's wound. I didn't understand."I wanted answers to my questions."Am not
"No. I refuse to believe this. My Anu can't be dead. I know you've taken him somewhere. You have to tell me what you've done to him, tell me now."I grabbed his arm with all my strength."What are you doing Artie? I know this is hard for you to believe but am afraid it's the truth... your husband is dead now."he said.I couldn't stop myself but to slap him so hard on his face. "Shut up! Do not say another word about my husband, do you hear me?""I won't say anything if that's what you really want. I think I should leave you and your problems alone because am tired of explaining myself to you that I'm not a bad person and my intentions are good yet no one is willing to believe in me. Am sorry if I troubled you in any way."he said and vanished.At that time I didn't care at all. I was only worried about my family. "Would they come back?"I kept asking myself. All I had to do was to wait for them with hopes that they'd surely come back.Some days elapsed with no sign of their return. As a
Mother had to leave and go back home. "Artie, keep my words in mind."she said before disappearing."This woman also! Why can't see that all this is happening because Anu wanted to keep his powers and this decision of his is stopping my children from coming back to me. I need to do something, but what?"I thought. We couldn't speak to each other for two days although Anu tried to cheer me up sometimes.On the third day of the second week, the old man in my dreams came and appeared before Anu and I. "I've been watching you and I really like your patience. You still have hopes that your sons will come back even after all these days. Wow, keep it up."he said."Who are you?"Anu barked at him."He...is the same old man I told you about.""Old man?""Yes, he's the one who always come in my dreams."I explained. "What brings you here."I asked."I came here to help you after seeing how much you both love your sons."he said smiling."How are you going to help? And who called for your help?"Anu sh
I then took her to where I had left Anu. The moment we came very close to him, I started to see some improvement. "What kind of magic does this girl possess?"I asked myself."Here he is."I said."Oh! He's my uncle."she jumped in excitement after looking at his face."Your uncle? How? I mean do you know him?""Yes, he's the same man in the picture that mom used to show to us. She said we should call him uncle, that's why. Oh, am so happy but..."she couldn't complete."What?"I asked curiously."I don't understand one thing, my mom used to tell us that uncle doesn't have a wife that's why he wanted to marry my mom so how come you're claiming to be his wife?""My worries are slowly coming true, Cucu's blood is haunting us."I breathed deeply. "Well...we married recently, that's why."I lied."Let me heal my uncle first but before that, you need to hide somewhere because my magic can't work when someone is watching me.""Alright then I'll go and hide. You'll call me when you're done, okay?"
It was almost coming to midday and our kids hadn't returned yet, there was no any sign of their return the thing that caused locomotion in my stomach."No, the old man's words shouldn't come true."I prayed inwardly. I was getting worried and restless that I thought of summoning my mother. I felt like sharing the weird dream with her. I knew she could interpret it for me but no... she wasn't allowed to come see me at the moment as only Manu's parents and siblings were accepted."What should I do now."I didn't know that I said it loudly. "What, what do you want to do?"Anu asked."It's nothing."I lied."Still worried about the dream, right?""Ahhh no. I mean am not worried at all."I said giving him a plastic smile. "Am here, nothing is going to happen to our sons I promise. They'll have to come back for us no matter what."he assured.I always loved the courageous version of his. It always got me fall in love with him over and over again. "I love you Mr Anu."I said coming closer to him an