Chapter 1: One Touch: One Kiss

William Asher opened the cottage door looking for Maya. He raised that girl to the best of his abilities; also knowing the Doom Cemetery environment wasn’t the right place to raised her. He once applied to get her into a school for girls but she refused pointedly. A quick search revealed Maya wasn’t home.

“Hello Dad,”

The older man stood motionless looking at his only son. He kept his face expressionless; being on guard. He doesn’t trust his son.

“What do you want; Billy?”

“I need your help.”

“I don’t want to help you. Whatever trouble you are in; sort it yourself.”

William need to get out of the cottage. He doesn’t want Maya to walk in on them. He grabbed the shovel he briefly placed against the cabinet. He pushed past his son. “Get out of my way.”

“I need your help Dad.” He quickly grabbed hold of his arm.

“Let go,” William pushed him out of the way.

He walked towards the area where he needed to dig the new grave. He starts to work but kept his eyes on his son who seemed very nervous.

“How can you live in a place like this Dad?”

Billy Asher looked towards the black gates. He knows it’s just a question of time before they found him. He studied the row of graves, noticed the black crows sitting on some headstones looking at him.

“This place is creepy.” He observed.

“Feel free to leave then. I certainly didn’t invite you here.”

William leaned on the shovel looking at his son. It was clear he was nervous since he kept looking towards the closed gates. “How did you get onto the grounds Billy?”

“The gates were opened.” He said shortly; clearly on edge.

“No, it wasn’t. The people getting into this place comes with an invitation. What did you do? Who did you betray? I don’t want trouble around me.”

“I am in a bit of a jam. I need money.”

“I don’t have any.” William start shoveling again.

“You are lying. It’s clear you never leave this place. You must have a good amount of money stash away.”

“I don’t Billy.”

“I never ask you for anything. Help me out Dad.”

“No, and I want you to leave.”

Father and son looked pointedly at each other. The hostility clear between them...

Maya slowly climbed from the satin covered coffin. She felt tense and afraid to looked around. She was definitely not alone. The dimly lit tomb makes it possible for her to see. She can see the door leading to the outside.

“You are free to go.”

Thomas Roman said softly from somewhere behind her or rather from within the coffin.

Maya felt the unbelievable strong urge to look around but once she saw the truth of where she was; it would become instant clear reality.

“I understand.” He said softly.

“What are you talking about?” Maya felt her body already turning before realization dawn. She has now fully turned around but everything was in darkness.

“If you want to know the truth; you should open your eyes.” He suggests with a teasing tone of voice.

“Can you…can you read minds” she asked openly uncertain.

“Yes, I can but only if I choose too. There is currently no need. Your body language is very obvious.”

Maya stood there with closed eyes just nodding her head like she was in complete agreement. She can hear her own heart beat throbbing in her throat and fast-paced in her chest. It took a moment but she managed to calm the thundering sound in her ears.

“What you said…” she asked uncertain.

“What did I say?” he asked gently.

“Who are you?”

“I am Thomas Roman.”

“Are you lying?” she asked sounding scared.

“Why would I Maya?”

“You know my name?” she asked with rising panic. She opened her eyes looking directly at the coffin. It was empty. Indecisive if she should be relief or more afraid. There was a notion in her mind but she actively avoids the possibility of that knowledge.

“Where are you?” she now sounds puzzled.

“I am here.” He answered from somewhere in the dark.

“I can’t see you.” Maya kept looking around.

“You are not ready to look at me. I am Thomas Roman. I was reborn in the year 1919. I used to live in Europe.”

Maya stayed motionless trying to comprehend what the man was telling her. The words over familiar but she tries her best to deny what she was thinking.

“Are you playing a joke on me?” she questioned with sudden building fury. The notion makes sense since it’s her birthday. “Do you know Olivia Stone? Are you part of her crowd, the cruel pranking gang?” her voice suddenly broke with sadness and instant building anger rising inside of her. She refuses to be vulnerable in front of a stranger she can’t see.

“I am my own being. I don’t belong in groups of stupidity.”

“I think you are lying to me.”

“I am not,” he said softly convincingly.

“Those girls trapped me in a bloody coffin. Their intent was clear but I don’t understand why?” Her puzzlement clearly evident. “I think I should get out of here.” She snapped with renewed building anger. The words barely left her lips when she saw the door slowly opened. The constant mistiness from the cemetery sneaked into the tomb. She just stood within the opened door looking back inside but there was nothing. The coffin was closed.

“Hello? Where are you?”

Only her voice echoes around the tomb with no answer. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back inside. With trembling hands, she slowly lifted the crown that is the top portion of the coffin. Relief and strangely disappointed she found it empty.

“I am going crazy,” she whispered as she stepped out of the tomb. The door shut firmly behind her. This startled her into running…

William realized the moment his son would hit him. The truth was he has been waiting for this attack twenty-three years. He prays he would survive the attack; he can’t leave Maya with hanging questions.

“If you are not going to help me Dad, I will just have to take the money. I am no fool.” Billy hits his father over the head with a rock. He watched as he falls into the freshly dig grave. He saw the instant blood appeared at the side of his head. “Look at what you made me do Dad? You should have helped me.” He looked around for the shovel. He realized it was still in his father’s hand.

“Shit,” he hissed. A sudden chill went through his body. He senses danger on his skin. He looked around. The mist was heavy and thick. He can barely see in front of him.

“Now where is that bloody cottage? I can’t see anything in front of me.” The words barely left his lips when he noticed movement just ahead of him. He quickly follows with the sense of not being alone. He has the strange notion the mist was alive.

“Papa,” Maya called. The moment she stepped into the cottage she just knew something was wrong. She starts to realized her birthday might be jinxed.

She stepped outside. The mist was very heavy. Her experienced eyes looked at the wet ground. She quickly noticed two sets of male footprints. She recognized the one set belonging to her grandfather.

Instant concern gripped her heart. He was her only family.

“Papa? Where are you?”

She closed the cottage door behind her. Looking around searching for movement. Her own body stayed motionless waiting. It took a couple of minutes before she noticed quick movement. She knows these grounds like the palm of her hands. Something was wrong here. There seemed to be strangers around here.

“Who is out there?”

She only received silence but the quietness felt eerie. Once the mist completely swirls around her, she quickly changed her position. Since she was over familiar with the grounds; she quickly changed her direction moving swiftly towards the newly acquired plot that needs to be dig today. She truly hopes to find her grandfather there.

It was clear there were strangers on the grounds, making sure she stays out of sight moving swiftly. The mist was heavy. She nearly walked into the open grave freshly dig. She looked around before peering into the grave.

“Papa,” she called shocked. She instantly jumped into the grave. She knelt beside him. Apart from the blood she found a strong pulse.

“What is going on here? Are this strangers’ grave thieves?” she whispered. “How on earth will I get you out of here Papa?”

She quickly scrambled out of the grave looking around.

“Hmm,” groaned her grandfather just suddenly behind her. She quickly turned around fast very surprise.

“Papa…how on earth?” She kneels beside him confused. “Are you okay?”

“Help me Maya,” he asked softly.

She quickly lifts his arm wrapping it around her neck before she bodily starts to lift him slowly from the ground. She might be slender but she feels her own strength surging throughout her body as she helps him into maneuverability.

“What’s going on here?” Billy found himself completely disoriented. No matter how he tried he just can’t seem to see in front of him.

“This way,” Thomas whispered softly as he had instantly recognized Billy as the same man who from the year 2000.

“Where are you?” Billy feels nervous.

“Follow my voice.” Thomas decided to play cat and mouse with him.

“I can’t see you.” Billy was worried.

“I am here. Just opened your eyes.”

Billy keep moving forward. He can feel someone breathing down his neck. This was strange since he was a tall man. Try as he might he just can’t see anyone to save his life.

“There you are; Billy-boy.”

The two-gun men quickly approached him. The weapons were pointed at him.

“Are you trying to play games with us Billy-boy?” Andy asked.

“No,” Billy looked around nervously. “This place gives me the creeps.”

“Where is our money, Billy-boy?” Andy questions but kept looking around having the odd notion someone was breathing down his neck. He second the other guy’s opinion that the graveyard was indeed creepy.

“I don’t have it.” Billy also kept looking around trying to shake the cold from his body.

“Wrong answer Billy-boy.”

“I know where to find the money.” Billy answered hastily.

“Really!” Andy fired a quick shot into a nearby grave stone.

“Yes…yes, I just can’t find the bloody cottage.” He admits. “This place is confusing the hell out of me.”

“What cottage?” Andy absently studied the moving mistiness. He definitely has the sense its alive.

“The place where my father is staying.”

“Where is that?” Andy was suspicious and annoyed with a touch of fear. He keeps feeling the presence of someone. “Where is your father, Billy-boy?”

“He won’t be a problem. I had taken care of him. Billy nervously admits.

“You saying you are stealing from him to pay your debt?” Andy was instantly furious. He wants his money but he dislike men like the one in front of him. Thieves should have a kind of honor.

“He won’t miss it. Look at the fucking place where he lives. He had a huge amount of money stashed away.” Billy said eagerly trying to safe his own skin.

“Wait here Papa.” Maya carefully made her grandfather sit down on the bench. “How do you feel?”

“Just dizzy.”

“Wait here for me. I will quickly go look for drunk Johnny.”

“Maya…be careful.”

“I promise. Don’t leave me papa.” She quickly sits down beside him taking hold of his hand.

“Just hurry back.” William watch her quickly disappear within the thickness of the mist. He quietly prays that his useless son has already left. He kept her safe for twenty-three years. Once Billy catch sight of her; he might lose her. He tried looking for the pale man but the mist stayed eerily thick.

Maya moved swiftly between the rows of graves. She knows this place like the back of her hands. Her steps were secure. Just ahead of her she hears sudden angry voices. Carefully now moving forward wondering who it might be. “Could it be the people who attack my papa?” she whispered softly.

Everyone knows Doom Cemetery is off-limits. Should you enter without permission; there is a price to pay. She once questioned her grandfather about the graves wondering why there were never truly crosses around…he told her the records showed it was non-believers who died but the grounds were enchanted. They had eternal peace with no disturbance but if you violate the graves unrest will follow you.

“There is three just ahead. Careful…” Thomas said softly.

“Who said that?” Billy was instantly anxious not liking the voice that sounds in his head.

“What are you talking about Billy-boy? I said nothing.” Andy was annoyed glaring at the other man.

“Didn’t you hear that?”

“What?”

“Be quiet and listen.” Billy insists with rising panic.

“I will take two. You get the other one.” Thomas said laughing eerily with a satisfied voice.

“Run…” Billy screamed. All three men instantly scattered into different directions.

Maya stood motionless; listening; waiting. She senses something was about to happen. She kept looking at the mist covered path. She looked back but can’t see her grandfather. When she looked forward again, she saw the man running towards her but he kept looking over his shoulder. It took him a moment before he realized someone was right in his path.

His frightened speed makes it impossible to stop in time. He bodily runs right into her.

Maya felt herself flying through the air before she landed on the wet grass. Her head snapped back while the mist swirl around her. The images of the man shocked; his expression distorted in profile.

“Gia…” she heard him say. “You are dead…” he said in rising fear.

Maya slowly get onto her feet watching as the familiar face just younger than her grandfather; took flight. He had seen the pale man just behind…Gia…

Maya stood there looking puzzled…the premonition had revealed distorted images…

“Who is Gia?” she questions her words echoing around her completely unaware of who stood behind her... in protective mode.