Poking the flash at his face, the man confirmed my guess, revealing his dusky face, and a godly smirk of victory lurked at the side of his mouth. He appeared to have cracked the passcode of an Egyptian kingdom and now was marching ahead to claim the throne! Hooting and howling inwardly, calm or silent on the exterior. "Logan," I murmured, genuinely not feigning surprise to bump into a cop in this thunderous weather. "It's Detective Logan for you," he corrected. "So, what are you doing here at this time? I think you said your goodbyes earlier? Didn't you?" His tone sharp and accusatory, hit me in my ears more than the lightining which struck right at the popping minute. I felt a shudder and the droplet cascading down my spine; the dewy droplet got lost in my waist but the chills followed down, getting locked in my knees and they wobbled. I have never been certain about my situation before as I have been then when Logan's eyes lit up in fascination watching me maintain my balance on
Hammers clattered on my head; a voice wheedled itself into my brain, compelling me to flap open the eyelids and gaze at the place. Rush of chills exploded in my vertebrae as I squirmed, inhaling the freshly baked buns straight out from the oven. The pupils underneath dilated, moving to and froth, I felt movement in my fingers. They laid on a cold surface, I affirmed gaining back the momentum of my conscious reality. "Where was I? How long I have been out of my mind and out of body? Did my soul escaped from the window and returned again? What do I look like now? A rusty machine or an inflated corpse?" Senses hollered back, supporting my hand on what seemingly appeared to be concrete, I perched up. A momentary lightheadedness succumbed me but I opened my eyes and stared down... my lower half tied to the cemented high platform. Small, large, and medium sized ropes of ten different colors rolled one over the other, holding me together in a uptight position. 'Whoever brought me here from t
The phone comes alive again and the sound of stones pelting against each other reached my ears. I opened my eyes and gawked at the screen showcasing another barn: Alina came in the view, bruised and teary-eyed; hands tied behind, while she snuggled in a corner with that tiny hope lurking in her eyes for the kidnapper to leave her alone. Opposite her, the stone holder and cutting machine hurled the edgy balls outside. They were far enough from Alina but soon the distance would be covered if she wasn't rescued on time. "Help," she whimpered; her lips shivered and she pushed herself against the thin pillar with tattered paint. "Stop the machine," beseeching, I once again got back to working on trimming the ropes. I barely succeeded. Each layer underneath kept on tighter and firmer; the mist surrounded the room covering my sight of Mrs. Rodriguez who broke into incoherent laughter and later, it got shrilling and chaotic. Her dusky face lit up with wrinkles of the old age yet there was
Death was never a fun equation, it glued me today for I have lived enough to know that I am far from being a normal restaurant owner who enjoys luxuries and women. I am a mere delusional sleepless teen boy wandering in the body of an adult seeking solace from one point to another. If I must see my story end in this barn, then it might be a welcoming change in the book of my destiny or so I concurred in my mind. "Denial of the truth is the biggest setback in life," I said, sitting upright and piercing my gaze into that of a kidnapper lady.
The cell-phone dropped from my hand and I rotated my eyeballs from Mrs. Rodriguez face, gleaming with unstable victory to the ground. I peeped under the high aisle where I still seated, holding my breath, and found the red timer on the bomb jumping in speed. It ticked and surprisingly, jellybeans erupted in my tummy. It was supposed to be a more subtle element such as fear or anxiety instead an urge to eat a profound snack clicked me. Death was never a fun equation, it glued me today for I have lived enough to know that I am far from being a normal restaurant owner who enjoys luxuries and women. I am a mere delusional sleepless teen boy wandering in the body of an adult seeking solace from one point to another. If I must see my story end in this barn, then it might be a welcoming change in the book of my destiny or so I concurred in my mind. "Denial of the truth is the biggest setback in life," I said, sitting upright and piercing my gaze into that of a kidnapper lady. "And what's t
The continuous rain pattering on the window disturbed my rest even though I never slept. With eyes closed, I am habitual of laying awake and listening to the sparrows in the distance chirping, and often they fly in my balcony to sing their own melodies of the day. I don't speak sparrow-ish; someday, I hope to comprehend. I stretched my right arm on the bed and looked at the mirror painted with those miniscule drops. Each mingling in an old fashioned way to become a family of their own. My eyes remained glued to the window pane. Tonight my world has spiraled a full circle. The chapter of Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Cavelli and I deem Logan as well has come to a predictable finish line. The woman who has lived to bring justice to her deceased daughter is rotting in a prison. My therapist's wife who accused me of being a murderer apologized for hitting me. It was an unintentional accident but she felt guilty for handing me over to Mrs. Rodriguez instead of taking me to the hospital. She confess
My first thought on this unusual and cryptic morning when I stepped into the Price Inns was to get my head straight and confront Serena about her early disappearance. After our romantic make out session, a few hours earlier, I had planned to bring her breakfast in bed with a light pink rose, a gratitude card and some new feels to celebrate our love and togetherness. I was stranded on the bed alone with a sticky note lying on the lamp table reading, "Heading to the restaurant to prepare for the feast. See you soon. Wear something neat and ironed. Enjoyed our night; rooting for you to be less wild and informative if you're going to mark my neck as your forever territory. Love and kisses." I had folded the note, inhaled it several times for it smelled of her perfume…that white musk was getting frequently bought and soon, I think she'd own a shop of it, if her addiction to it doesn't change. I'd tucked the note inside my blazer and with an exasperated sigh stole a glimpse of myself in th
Bringing the topic of wedding two months back wasn't an appropriate choice. A bed of hassles awaited resolution such as sorting out the differences with Mrs. Cavelli; bidding final farewell to Mrs. Rodriguez and exiting the loop of insomnia and its effects on my mental body. All that went for a toss when Serena agreed to marry me and the next day itself, I placed the ring on her, taking the stage for five minutes during the grand reception and closing out the deal for life. The reception couple and their audience were ecstatic and gleaming with passion after receiving our finest hospitality and once again, the Price Inns became the manor of hot discussion on the tabloids and news channels. The bride's blogger friends were more than forthcoming to leave the five star reviews on the website; spread the buzz wherever they could and they booked us in advance for their upcoming respective weddings. Overnight, I became a sensational figure of Times Square from a depressed lonely man who wall
Carolina's POV (From Hell) Closure! 'What are these earthly creatures talking about?' I mused, eyeing the devils lingering around the foggy atmosphere. The realm has been freezing lately and it's impossible to step out to take a look. I sat in my chambers, staring at the mirror displaying the happy faces from Derena's wedding. It stunned me to know that the residents up in the fire have been keeping tabs on the two pathetic lovers and have given them a combined name. They have divulged from having a secretive live-in relationship to an official wedding taking the vows of sickness and health. It disgusted me to discover the insomniac's sleep cycle tattered. I ablaze the flames from beneath. They scattered in flickering venomous fireflies before they went off and the realm got covered in a silence as murky as the daunting night of our souls lurking over one another. This humbug of promises are making me itchy and edgy. 'What do they have that I don't? How did this life became so fair f
Carolina's POV (From Hell) There are no timelines in Hell for I'm the unlimited invincible force to reckon and beckon. Satan is in authority but in his absence I take the charge to pour sense into the little devil's roaming around with a vibration of an independent soul. I hate it and so does, the lord of hell. Hell is about codependency on each other; empowerment is destructive coping mechanism around here. We don't preach or teach; we probe and lead to a highly classified mission of ruining the lives of those who caused us to descend at the lower level. The pitch dark web is our prison to initiate the activities of explosive thoughts and nightmarish emotions into the earthly humans we detest. I rarely see the reflection of my charred face in the mirror; it's spooky and ruthless. At times, I crawl and crib to the magical flying beasts in the chambers, storing endless wrath. They're not long or amusing; they're power boosters rising from the fire like volcanic eruption. Sometimes,
Carolina's POV (From Hell) Withered cage. Hollow air. Silicon powers clouding the invisible realm, obscured somewhere where the human souls would come along as the hostility takes over. Monsters are cooked here; monsters are banished here and monsters seek monsters. What I think is not what I see for my vision is either protruded or the arising monstrosity within me has shielded the cone of volatile fire captivating my chambers. Satan's punishing me for defying him. I was instructed to let go off the war and interaction with the human world but I can't let my fatal enemy Daniel Price get a happily after with my newly found sister, Serena. Mommy dearest hid from me the treachery of her existence. How could I ever let it go? I was only her baby girl; she knew I loved to fight over Daniel; how could I have lived to see him sway away from the path of comeuppance? Streaks of fire tinge me on my stone walled body. It carries the weight of my deadpanned soul awaiting a release in the
Carolina's POV (From Hell) Peace. 'What is it? Why is it and who brings it?' I sorted to find out in my larger than egoistic life on earth. Mother had said, "there's no peace in the human family. It's hell."Hell. Black inky island. Faraway from human contact, food, water or emotions. The place I am scattered and trapped; a home of my darkened, defeated and dead soul. It wasn't the place for life. It became my after life when my soul left the planet in the accident I caused in my obsession for Daniel. I rested in one of the chambers of the aflamed open terrace of a roundabout endless fire, situated beneath the plateau…little demons with tails crawled up from the ropes held out through the gate of hell. The big guy with those giant white scary eyes, let me in after I wandered into the abyss for days. 'All hail Satan!' No fights. No fun. No feeling and no one to hate except for the memory of my trickling death. What an award winning scene and plan it was to mop out the entire Pr
Eight years LaterSleep! My eternal love. My lifetime friend. The only thing now I can do without fail. How peaceful it is to sleep like a log of wood and snore my way in the office at bizzare days and meeting hours. I have recognized this feeling as heart blazing. I never knew I would brim with gratification after attaining the peaceful slumber, straight for eight hours. But now that I have actually gotten into the habit of drowning in the heavenly world for eight years I concur nothing can be more blissful than sleeping in between a day exhausting me or after work. As I squirmed to find a comfortable position on the couch, whispers resembling the wind whooshing, kissed my either side. I tried to shun them away but when I didn't budge, an ear bleeding shriek traveled in my ears. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh," tumbling down the couch, I stared at the two reincarnation of Satan's, who faced me with hands on their hips and glint mischievous smiles circulating in their eyes. They scanned my face
"What the fuck!" The intensity of our curse matched. We gawked at the other, and reluctantly brought an inch or two distance between our bodies. Confronting the man behind us, I recognized the intruder as the inspector who arrested us on that frick of a night. He flashed his badge and glared. Serena scooted closer to me, eyeing me from her peripheral vision in embarrassment. "The universe does love you, Darling. It's conspiring to fulfill your outrageous wish. How do you think I should proceed now?" I taunted in her ear. "You two again!" The inspector exclaimed. "That too on your wedding day?" It was more of a reprimanding query than a statement for he pointed at us in disbelief and shook his head. His military eyes switched off my manliness and my confidence to explain the compromising circumstance tunneled down. I dare not open my silky mouth to squash some chocolaty words to this machoman who can outwit me in strength corporeally. So silky chocolate. Suits my personality. '
Our reception controversy was unavoidable. Guess, I am willing to shake hands even with the reporters to curb down the juiciest details of the encounter with the prisoner and reposition the focus on the cake which got everyone to piss in their hearts. They smiled devilishly at me, driving a wedge of discomfort in my demeanor. Perambulating upto the team leader of the Zee Cafe, I pitched, "Hey Rita, mind having a private word?" "The great Daniel Price is giving us his precious minute of the hour. It's my lucky day, indeed." She clapped her hands in joy. "How can I help the dapper groom?" She flirted, moving in my space but far enough to not cross a line. "Stick to the report on the cake, decor, and Serena's skills. Avoid the orange buzz, will you?" Straight to the point, I ordered in an authoritative way. "I got the bite from your side for the first freaking time and you're robbing me of that chance to publish it to my readers who are crazy about this place and owner." "I will giv
A miraculous waterfall emerged from the guests attending the ceremony. Sallowed than the boiled egg-yolk, Serena weeped her lungs out, dismaying me for I'd expected her to glow bronze. "You're not gonna puke, are you?" I asked, checking her temperature. "It's too much emotion for me for one day and everyday with you is a challenge," she bit her lip, apologetic to feel the way she did."Amm…you wanna go ahead, right?" "Yeah…damn yeah. Fuck yeah…I am crazy for you. Thank you," she whispered, flicking her hands infront of her face. She was flustered with compassion and gratitude. Tonight, on the bed I can finally show her my entire being and the certainty of her loving it, crowded my rock sized brain. Since I literally left my official wife in making speechless, she demanded the pastor to allow her to present her commitment from the book of vows. The intent counted and she sealed the promise in her sincere and affectionate voice. No sooner we exchanged the rings, and said our "I do'
Bringing the topic of wedding two months back wasn't an appropriate choice. A bed of hassles awaited resolution such as sorting out the differences with Mrs. Cavelli; bidding final farewell to Mrs. Rodriguez and exiting the loop of insomnia and its effects on my mental body. All that went for a toss when Serena agreed to marry me and the next day itself, I placed the ring on her, taking the stage for five minutes during the grand reception and closing out the deal for life. The reception couple and their audience were ecstatic and gleaming with passion after receiving our finest hospitality and once again, the Price Inns became the manor of hot discussion on the tabloids and news channels. The bride's blogger friends were more than forthcoming to leave the five star reviews on the website; spread the buzz wherever they could and they booked us in advance for their upcoming respective weddings. Overnight, I became a sensational figure of Times Square from a depressed lonely man who wall