Chapter 4: One Touch: One Kiss

Maya flees from the cottage. The moment she was outside; the heavy mist was cloyingly thick. She can’t see in front of her. Her feet keep moving forward; the destination uncertain;

“Maya! Wait!”

The calling of her name just spurs her on. She kept running. She kept stumbling. When she looked up again, she saw the black gates right in front of her. She quickly rushes forward. She can’t go any further. In her frantic mind it dawns on her the gates were lock.

“Maya, where are you?”

She spins around looking behind her but she can’t see anyone. Her heart still beat fast in her throat. After a couple of moments, she still didn’t see anyone. She does know it was just a question of time before they both find her.

Thomas knew precisely where she was. He chooses not to frightened her further. He kept his pace with the old man. Quietly he realized he was behaving like he was still human. This behavior was very strange and certainly out of character.

He clearly understood his thoughts and concerns but found it curious that the old man wasn’t frightened with him. He senses no fear whatsoever.

“Maya is near the gates. She is trying to leave the grounds.” Thomas said softly.

“How do you know?” William asked surprise before he realized the truth for what is was. “You sense her.”

“Yes, sir. May I ask a question?”

“Don’t you already know the answer?” William queries.

“Why don’t you fear me?” Thomas stood right in front of him.

“It took me sometime before I realized there is creatures walking the night. I decided since they don’t border me; why should I be concerned by them. My duty is to tend the grounds and keep strangers out or away from the graves or tombs. I always believed I lived in a normal world but I don’t.”

“You knew I would come.” Thomas looked at his ring.

“The day you brought happiness to my door. I knew it was just a question of time. I always knew you were constantly close.” William explain his truth.

“Why did you never acknowledge this to anyone?”

“It wasn’t my business. My daughter-in-law sealed her fate with you. Did she know what she did? Did she willingly do this? I don’t know. Only destiny will reveal how this will end.”

Thomas said nothing. He just stood motionless. At last he starts to looked around.

Maya suddenly looked through the gates. She can hear the approaching car. Carefully concealing herself behind the grave stones as she looked and listened. The car stopped in front of the gates. After a minute she heard the doors opening. She judges them to be two people.

“Billy-boy, why are we here again?” Andy sound and looked nervous. The place still gives him the creeps.

“You want your money. My Dad has it.” Billy looked for a way onto the grounds. Last time it was easy since he found it partly opened.

He suddenly heard the quick flattering of wings. As he instinctively reaches for the gates it clicks opened. Without thinking he stepped inside.

“I don’t like this. Who just opened the gates? It was clearly locked.” Andy looked nervously around.

Billy said nothing. He just keeps walking further. He nervously looked around; because last time he had flee from this place. In his frantic haste it only dawn on him later; who he had seen apparently living on these grounds.

He had always thought his child had died the day he didn’t helped his wife giving birth to her. Now recently he discovered the major truth his father willingly kept from him. The girl was the mirror image of his wife. Now he was curious if Gia was still alive and where might she be hiding?

Maya recognized both men. Her eyes stayed focused on the man who was a younger version of her grandfather. As she studies him, she realized she don’t like him. He looked like trouble. She was suddenly certain he was the one who attack her grandfather.

“What are you doing here?” Maya suddenly stepped from behind the grave stone.

Andy instantly reaches for his gun. He felt a fleeing breeze. When he looked at his hand, the gun was gone.

“Who the hell are you?” Andy asked aggressively.

“This is private property.” Maya said softly. Her gaze was firm and direct.

“What is your name?” Billy looked curiously at her. He can’t believe he was looking at a clear version of his wife.

“My name is of no concern to you. Again; I am advising you that this is private property. I want you to leave.”

Billy stood motionless listening to her. Even her voice sounds like her mother’s. He slowly realizes his luck was about to change. “Do you know who I am?” he tests the waters. He can’t believe his father kept this from him.

“I don’t know you sir. What I want is you both to leave.” Maya said pointedly gesturing towards the open gates. “You are trespassing.”

“I am your father.” Billy said quickly watching her closely. The only visible emotion he noticed was the brief blinking of her eyes before a clear look of annoyance washes over her contours. She narrowed her eyes into a hard glint.

“You are mistaken sir. I am not going to ask you again to leave. Should you persist on staying I am going to call the police.” Maya crosses her arms over her chest watching them motionless.

“No, you are not, girly.” Andy approached her fast with a menacing look.

“Really…” Maya asked with a clear challenge. “I am not afraid of you. Also, for the record, what made you think I am alone here?”

“Billy kept looking at her in disbelief.

Andy looked nervous before checking if she was telling the truth. He realized again that the place was giving him the creeps. As he watched the surrounding area, he suddenly noticed the crows just sitting there watching him with their beady eyes.

“Billy-boy, I think we should leave.” He starts to think the birds was hypnotizing him as he was slow in looking away.

“I have business here Andy. Stop being a coward.”

“Leave…” Maya said flatly.

“I am looking for my father.” Billy suddenly changed tactics.

“Who might that be, sir?” Maya kept her expression controlled.

“William Asher. I am his only son.” Billy answered pointedly. He felt frustration building inside him. The girl was like an unmovable wall.

“Oh,” Maya stepped backwards. “I am sorry for your loss sir.” She said sounding sincere.

“What do you mean?” Billy was startled and worried.

“Someone killed him and left him in an open grave.” Maya answered solemnly. “You will find his body in the local morgue.”

“You are lying.” Billy instinctively took a couple of steps backwards. He now looks openly nervous. He didn’t realize he hit his father that hard.

“Why would I, sir?”

“Show me the grave where he was found.”

“Billy-boy, we should leave.” Andy advice really not liking this.

“I am not going anywhere. Show me the grave.”

“If you insist.” Maya turned around. She already senses the change in the mistiness. She wasn’t alone. The thickness easily swallows her before either man realized. She was gone.

“Where are you?” Billy called angrily. He only blinks a moment and she was gone. He kept moving forward but felt uncertain. He was out of his depths here.

Thomas and William both are close enough to touch the men. Thomas suddenly moved with unbelievable speed grabbing Billy and moved amongst the graves. Before he even could utter a word, he found himself beyond the gates looking inside. He barely noticed Andy running down the street.

Billy had lost his balance and landed on the wet ground. He tried looking around but sees nothing. He can still sense something moving around him but his eyes can’t seem to catch whoever.

“Why are you back Billy?” William talked behind him. He watches his son scrambling to get onto his feet.

“What…what the hell? What’s going on here?” he asked with building fury trying his best to shake his immediate fear from his shoulders.

“You should leave. You are not welcome here.” William advises.

With the help from Thomas who now stood on the grounds behind a close gate.

“I want answers Dad.” Billy suddenly screamed.

William had turned and vanished in the mist. Thomas made his appearance just looking at Billy who was white with fright…He slowly extend his fangs already moving…